The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Harjinder Singh Dhami, on 17 May condemned the Panjab government for altering the image of Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) through computer-generated techniques in an advertisement issued to solicit suggestions regarding upcoming centenary commemorations. Dhami further stated that despite hundreds of authentic images of Darbar Sahib being available on the internet, the govt.’s decision to distort one through digital manipulation is deeply painful. The family of artist Sobha Singh also raised objections against the unauthorized use of Guru Harigobind's painting by the Panjab govt. Sobha Singh’s grandson Hirday Paul Singh said, 'Its use without permission, along with the removal of the artist’s name, constitutes a clear case of copyright infringement. It is deeply regrettable that such disregard has been shown toward the legacy of Sobha Singh, who was honored as the State Artist by the Panjab govt. in 1973. Meanwhile, a row has erupted over the SGPC’s decision to put on hold the decision to install former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s portrait in the Central Sikh Museum. Sikh scholars, writers, and historians have termed the SGPC’s move 'deeply disappointing' and politically motivated, accusing it of caving under pressure and undermining the legacy of a globally respected Sikh figure. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh-based All-India Sikh-Punjabi Welfare Council (AISPWC) has claimed that over 3,000 Sikhs have been converted to Christianity in the Terai district of Pilibhit along the India-Nepal border in the last few years. The community welfare organization has drawn up a preliminary list of 160 affected families and sent it to the local administration on 17 May, seeking action against Christian missionaries from Nepal allegedly responsible for the conversion. A copy of the list has been forwarded to Chief Minister Ajay Mohan Singh Bisht alias Yogi Adityanath. Harpal Singh Jaggi, AISPWC state president and acting president of Lucknow Gurdwara Management Committee, alleged pastors have been actively facilitating conversions in border villages such as Bailha, Tatarganj, and Bamanpur Bhagirath since 2020.
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