SGPC meeting to announce decision already taken by Badals: Punjab CM

Chandigarh, June 25 (IANS) In an attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said that the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) will announce an already decided verdict on Monday as per directions of their "masters" .

In a statement issued here, he said that it is unfortunate that the premier organisation of Sikhs has now became a "stooge in the hands of its masters" and its meeting was just a sham as a decision has been already pre-scripted by the Akali leadership. 

Mann said the decision has been has been dictated, decided and delivered by the Badal family and the announcement by the SGPC President is just a formality.

He said this can be well judged from the fact that the SGPC President has been already summoned to the Akali Dal office and "been dictated decision by Maluka, Chandumajra, Bhunder, Cheema, Gabria and others who are present in the meeting". 

Mann said these leaders are apprising the decision of the Badal family to the President regarding opposition to the Sikh Gurudwara Amendment Bill 2023. 

He said the Assembly has already passed Sikh Gurudwara Amendment Bill 2023 which will be sent to Governor for his nod. He said this Bill envisages free to air telecast of the sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib for all the audio and video platforms and the decision of the state government is already being welcomed by every section of society. 

--IANS 
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