Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday urged the Center to start direct flights from Amritsar to various countries including the US and Canada.
He said Sikh leaders from Canada and the United States of America (USA) have approached the SGPC on the issue in the recent past. “Around 50 lakh Sikhs live abroad who have to face inconvenience due to non-availability of direct flights to Amritsar. Direct flights from Amritsar to USA, Canada, European countries, Australia and United Kingdom should be started,” Dhami said in a statement.
Dhami said that SGPC will establish liaison with the Prime Minister for this. Narendra Modi and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
He said that SGPC will also help Punjabi students who are helping to return from war-torn Ukraine from Delhi to Punjab. “An agreement has been signed with the Indo-Canadian bus service, which will bring these students from Delhi airport to Punjab. SGPC will also provide them refreshments and Delhi Sikh Mission staff will assist them in Delhi.
During the Executive Committee (EC) meeting on Tuesday, it was also decided to hold the budget session from March 30. During the session, the budget for the financial year 2022-23 will be passed and priorities for future actions will be set.
Dhami said that the Election Commission has also decided to release an annual assistance of Rs 15 lakh to All India Pingalwara Charitable Society, Amritsar. He said that Bhagat Puran Singh has set an example for the betterment of humanity and Pingalwada society is taking forward his vision. SGPC will continue to provide annual assistance of Rs 15 lakh to Pingalwada society.
The SGPC chief said that in the age of social media, the Election Commission has approved new amendments and guidelines to further strengthen the Information Technology (IT) wing of the organisation. He said a committee has been constituted to streamline the IT wing and its recommendations would be implemented.
In the meeting, it was also decided to send 300 holy Sarupas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as per the demand received from Takht Sachkhand Sri Achalnagar Hazur Sahib, Nanded. Dhami said that these holy saroops would be sent in a special bus with respect and conduct to the sangat of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
Dhami also demanded the release of Sikh prisoners. Hitting out at the Delhi government, Dhami said, “Kejriwal government is firm against the Centre’s decision to release Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and the SGPC will soon meet the Union Home Minister on the issue.”
He also informed that a delegation of SGPC met Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai and Education Minister BC Nagesh on the issue of preventing Sikh children from going to educational institutions with turbans in Bengaluru and Mangalore and the ministers have assured that in future. I will not do so.
During the meeting of the Election Commission, it was also approved to give 3 per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) to the employees of SGPC. Dhami said a special allowance of Rs 1,000 would be given to employees with a salary of up to Rs 20,000; Rs 500 for salary between Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000. Similarly, the salary of Billmukta employees has been increased by Rs 1,000, daily wage earners by Rs 15 per day, part-time employees by Rs 500 per month.