Sikh Federation (UK) urges Sikhs in Germany to get the German government to raise the case of Professor Bhullar and to immediately stop the censorship of the film Saada HAQ when Manmohan Singh visits later this week

8 April 2013

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be visiting Germany on Wednesday for a 3-day visit. He will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin from Wednesday. The main purpose of his visit is to get support for the India-European Union Foreign Trade Agreement (FTA).

The negotiations between the EU and India began 6 years ago in April 2007 and so far twelve rounds of negotiations have been held. The negotiations have been controversial and mostly held behind closed doors. Reportedly, one of the main roadblocks has been the EU’s insistence on including non-trade issues (human rights issues and environmental and labour standards) in the FTA, to which India is strictly opposed. The EU continues to insist that India should improve its human rights, labour standards and animal welfare issues, amongst other non-trade concerns.

On 21 November 2012 India ended its unofficial eight-year moratorium on the death penalty when it hanged Ajmal Kasab. The Sikh Federation (UK) and its human rights wing Khalsa Human Rights have increased communications with the European Commission in Brussels and exerted greater pressure through Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) regarding the death penalty in India and other human rights concerns.

On 21 January 2013 the Sikh Federation (UK) led an EU-wide delegation of Sikh representatives in a meeting in Brussels with European Commission officials dealing with human rights and India. Following this meeting Baroness Catherine Ashton, the EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner met the Indian Foreign Minister on 30 January 2013. The planned India-EU Summit in Brussels that Manmohan Singh was to attend in February 2013 to finalise the FTA was then postponed for later in the year.

Since then India has again carried out the death penalty on 9 February 2013 by hanging Afzal Guru. In addition, Pranab Mukherjee, India’s President, has broken all records and now ordered the death penalty for fourteen convicts in the last nine months. On Friday 5 April Amnesty International issued a world-wide Urgent Action appeal (UA 85/13: India: Indian prisoners at risk of imminent execution) that includes Balwant Singh Rajoana.

Bhai Amrik Singh, Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said:

‘We have contacted Sikh representatives in Germany about Manmohan Singh’s visit later this week and were in Frankfurt a week earlier urging Sikhs in Germany to increase political pressure on the German Government regarding Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar’s case given the German authorities illegally deported him in January 1995.’

‘This is an excellent opportunity for Sikhs in Germany to join forces with Amnesty International and other international human rights groups to exert maximum pressure on the German Government to take up the issue of the death penalty and human rights abuses with the Indian Prime Minister.’

‘In addition, this is an opportunity to work with anti-censorship groups and civil liberty groups in Germany about the controversial decision by state governments to ban the film Saada Haq in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi despite approval by the Censor Board. This is another violation of basic human rights on freedom of expression and cannot be justified.’

‘Manmohan Singh needs to get a very clear message from the German Government and those living in Germany, including Sikhs, that its human rights record is getting worse and will not be tolerated by Member States of the European Union.

Gurjeet Singh
National Press Secretary
Sikh Federation (UK)

The Tribune – ‘Sadda Haq’ team meets Takht chief; Matter to be discussed by five high priests, says Jathedar Gurbachan Singh

G S Paul, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 7. Led by its producer-actor Kuljinder Singh Sidhu, the crew of banned Punjabi movie ‘Sadda Haq’ today approached the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, urging him to intervene in the matter.

The Jathedar said the issue would be deliberated upon at the next maating of the five high priests. “The opinion of the high priests will be conveyed to the SGPC for further action,” the Jathedar said. The film crew, along with members of several Sikh organisations, performed ardas at Akal Takht.

The Punjab Government has banned the film which focuses on the dark days of militancy in the state. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), that had played a key role in getting clearance from the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) last year, has now distanced itself from the matter. Dejected, filmmaker Sidhu said the ban on his film, that had been cleared by the censor board with a U/A certificate, was arbitrary.

The film’s promotional song, ‘Baghi’ , reportedly equates Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana with freedom fighters. “Since there is no problem in letting the public watch films based on the Naxalite movement, the government appears biased in banning my film which is about a minority community,” he said.

He announced that he would move the Supreme Court against the government’s decision, if nothing else worked.

“We have requested the high priests to form a committee comprising Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims to view the film for an unbiased opinion,” he said.

“It is nothing but murder of freedom of expression. The film is a true portrayal of whatever happened during the period of militancy. It is ironical that a handful of bureaucrats have given their verdict against the screening of the film on the plea that it may disturb peace and harmony. Their apprehension is totally baseless,” Sidhu added.

Anandpur Sahib: Washing his hands of the controversy, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, during his visit here on Sunday, said it was the prerogative of the state government to take a decision on whether or not to ban a film.

Makkar, who was the chief guest at an inter-state turban tying competition, said the state government had to look after law and order too.

Of the 2,000 students who participated in the ‘dastarbandi’ contest, 245 were selected for special prizes. Prabhpreet Singh of Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School, Dhannupura, Amritsar, won the first prize. Gurnoor Singh of Dasmesh Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha, and Kaka Harpreet Singh of Sahibzada Fateh Singh Public School, Malerkotla, were declared first and second-runners up.

The three were awarded a cash prize of Rs 31,000, 21,000 and 11,000, respectively.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130408/punjab.htm#8

BBC News – Sikhs protest in London over India death penalty

Saturday, 6 April 2013. A group of UK-based Sikhs have protested outside the Houses of Parliament as part of a campaign to end the death penalty in India.

Members of Kesri Lehar condemn the death sentences imposed on four Sikhs, including one convicted for the assassination of an Indian politician.

The BBC’s Robert Pigott says the threat of execution is seen by some Sikhs as a key part of oppression against them.

India’s High Commission says use of the death penalty is valid under its laws.

Saturday’s protest, organised by campaign group Kesri Lehar, aimed to draw attention to the fate of Bulwant Singh Rajoana, who was sentenced to death in 2007 for his role in the 1995 assassination of Beant Singh, the chief minister of Punjab state, in India.

According to BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott, he has become a potent symbol to many Sikhs of what they claim has been a campaign of oppression against them, and of their call for an independent Sikh homeland in Punjab.

‘Demonstrations planned’

However, our correspondent says that one leading academic has warned the continuing demonstrations focused on conditions in Punjab could alienate young Sikhs and undermine the creation of a well integrated British Sikh identity.

But he adds that the Sikh Council has denied the widespread interest in Punjab threatens the community’s excellent record of integration.

Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in London said the death penalty had been challenged repeatedly, but had been found by the Supreme Court to be valid under the country’s constitution.

Beant Singh was killed on 31 August 1995, along with 17 others by a suicide bomber identified as Dilawar Singh.

Rajoana was convicted of acting as a back-up suicide bomber should Singh have failed.

Rajoana – whose hanging was postponed by Indian officials in March 2012 – has not appealed against his sentence.

Executions are comparatively rare in India where hundreds of convicts are awaiting the death penalty.

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving attacker from the 2008 Mumbai attack, was executed in November 2012, while Kashmiri militant Afzal Guru was hanged in February.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22049228

The Tribune – Simranjit Singh Mann seeks stay on Rajoana’s hanging

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 13. Fearing that Beant Singh assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana may be hanged to death like Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for staying his execution till rules and regulations for condemned prisoners were framed and notified.

Describing as ambiguous and arbitrary the rules contained in the Punjab Jail Manual, Mann said the manual did not provide for “communication to the family of the condemned prisoner regarding his execution by the jail authorities”.

It also did not provide for handing over the hanged prisoner’s body to his family.This was violative of Articles 19, 21 and 25 of the Constitution, he argued.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130314/punjab.htm#16

Sikh Federation – UK MPs prepare for historic debate in the UK parliament on the abolition of the death penalty in India

26 February 2013

The Sikh Federation (UK) has produced and distributed a 7,500 word briefing to over 100 UK Members of Parliament in the last 24 hours for those who can attend to use during a debate in the UK Parliament on the Abolition of the Death Penalty in India.  The two and a half hour debate is scheduled to take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons on Thursday 28 February 2013.

The briefing begins by stating:

Punishment by death is against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a “premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state.”

To highlight the significance of the issue the Sikh Federation (UK) briefing quotes the Times of India as reporting in February 2013 that ‘India is currently reporting one death penalty sentence every third day.’

The briefing provides general background on the Death Penalty in India and extensive details on the case history and current situation of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar that many others misrepresent or are simply unaware of.

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK), said:

‘We expect at least one hour of the debating time to be focused on Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar alone.  There is much that can be taken from his case history to show the fundamental failings of the Indian judicial system.  If there is any justice in India the Professor should be released without any further delay.’

MPs are also expected to cover the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana and the worldwide protests by Sikhs to stop his hanging last year.  The briefing sets out that Dilawar Singh and Balwant Singh Rajoana witnessed the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, order the mass killing of innocent Sikhs – men, women, and children and goes on to say:

‘During Beant Singh’s tenure it has been widely reported the police and paramilitary forces  were responsible for the killing of more than twenty-five thousand Sikhs who ‘were either disappeared’ or were killed and their bodies cremated by the police in extrajudicial executions.’

The briefing also provides specific examples of extra-judicial killings of Sikhs by the police in the last two years to demonstrate the Indian authorities have returned to eliminating Sikhs and political opponents through extra-judicial killings without having to take cases to court and secure prosecutions.

UK MPs are expected to widen the debate and some may go as far as to question the Indian State as a democracy with the widespread criminalisation of politics and a judicial system that has all but failed.

It is rumoured that many pro-Indian UK politicians are making excuses and will stay away from the debate.  Privately they are believed to be furious a debate is taking place that will inevitably result in criticism of India.  They are saying it will be a one-sided debate as the UK Government will have no choice but to condemn India for retaining the death penalty and other human rights violations.

The Sikh Federation (UK) briefing concludes by asking UK MPs to raise a number of questions and make proposals that will exert pressure on the UK Government to work with EU Member States and other nations across the globe opposed to the death penalty to take the issue up at the United Nations.

Jagtar Singh, London

The Tribune – Balwant Singh Rajoana expresses desire to be hanged

Patiala, February 24. Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict on death row in connection with the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, has expressed his desire to be hanged.

Rajoana, a Babbar Khalsa International terrorist, has in a four-page open letter said he had neither appealed for any mercy nor did he ask anyone to do that for him.

In the past also, Rajoana had refused to appeal against his death sentence.

In the letter, written from Patiala jail recently, he has reasserted his readiness to go to the gallows. Rajoana sent the letter through his sister.

The letter puts the ruling SAD in a fix as the party had lobbied with Union Government for commutation of the death sentence awarded to Rajoana.

Rajoana has said that after Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s execution, major political parties were asking one another to clear their position on his hanging.

Rajoana was a party to the assassination Beant Singh and sixteen others.

They were killed by a human bomb at Punjab civil secretariat on August 31, 1995. Rajoana was sentenced to death in 2006.

Rajoana’s hanging was scheduled to take place on March 31, 2012 but was postponed in wake of a review petition moved before President of India by SGPC and Badal Dal.

Rajoana’s mercy petition is pending with the President.

Beant Singh is credited with fighting terrorism with an iron fist along with the then Punjab police chief KPS Gill. (PTI)

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130225/punjab.htm#5 

The Tribune – Seizure of Explosives by Patiala Police; Rajoana held guilty, awarded 10-year rigorous imprisonment

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 6. Additional District and Sessions Judge Sanjiv Berry today sentenced Balwant Singh Rajoana to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 10,000 in a case pertaining to seizure of explosives.

Rajoana, a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) activist and a former constable with the Punjab Police, is on death row for the assassination of Chief Minister Beant Singh. His execution was scheduled for March 31 last year but the Home Ministry stayed his execution following clemency appeals by the SGPC.

Except for a case registered under the Arms Act, verdict in all other cases against Rajoana has already been declared.

The hearing in a case registered under the Arms Act is fixed for February 16 in a Patiala court.

Rajoana was produced in the court this morning amid heavy security.

The court order reads: “The accused has been held guilty and convicted under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and sentenced to undergo 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and has been fined Rs 10,000. However, the period of detention already undergone by the convict in this case is ordered to be set off against the substantive sentence imposed vide this judgement.” Rajoana has been in jail for the past more than 17 years.

A native of Rajoana Kalan village in Ludhiana district, he was caught by the Rajpura police with a bag containing explosives on December 22, 1995.

He was nabbed by a police team led by Devinder Singh, then a Sub-Inspector, that was checking commuters on the eve of the Prime Minister’s visit to Punjabi University, Patiala.

Rajoana was found carrying a polythene bag with 40 bricks weighing at least 12 kg, 43 detonators, two receivers, 10 pencil bombs and seven bundles of wire.

When caught, a desperate Rajoana tried to swallow a cyanide capsule. However, he was overpowered by police personnel.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130207/punjab.htm#2

The Tribune – Panjab government trips on law & order front

Jangveer Singh, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 30. After having secured an unprecedented second victory on the trot in the Punjab Assembly elections earlier this year, the SAD-BJP government appeared a regime without a trouble till it tripped on the law and order front in 2012, exposing itself to attack from the Opposition as well as the people.

The seeds which caused problems to the government were sowed in the run-up to the last elections. The SAD allegedly adopted a soft attitude towards radical groups as well as appointed hundreds of youth with suspect affiliation to the party as its Youth Akali Dal (YAD) officer-bearers.

The nexus between Akali workers and police functionaries came back to haunt the government at the fag end of the year with Akali workers taking the law into their own hands on several occasions.

Immediately after the election victory, the government was tested when under pressure it allowed radical groups a free run to protest to demand commutation of the death sentence of former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana. Even as the Punjab Police controlled the situation with difficulty, the SAD gave the go-ahead to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to construct a memorial at the Darbar Sahab in Amritsar to commemorate those who were killed in the Operation Blue in 1984.

This resulted in fanning the radical cause and there were reports from central agencies that militants were regrouping to revive terrorism in the state.

Besides these two issues, the Punjab Police was faced with controlling a flare-off between radical groups and followers of Dera Sachha Sauda after clashes in Sirsa in Haryana. A compromise between radicals and the Dera Beas over pulling down of a gurdwara in Amritsar district was also affected. At the fag end of the year, incidents of Akali workers taking the law into their own hands rocked the state assembly. First there was a case of an Akali worker allegedly forcibly abducting a minor girl from her house in Faridkot, followed by the killing of an ASI by another Akali worker in Amritsar and finally an attack on an AIG (Assistant Inspector General of Police) by Akali workers in Ludhiana.

These attacks put the entire system of policing under the scanner in the state. The police, which defended itself by claiming that it had responded promptly and effectively in all the three cases, was left red faced when a rape victim allegedly committed suicide nearly two months after the incident when the local police failed to take cognisance of her complaint.

However, the state performed well on the terrorism watch front under DGP Sumedh Singh Saini. There was no major case of terrorism even as the state arrested several persons on charges of trying to revive terrorism. Naxal activities, which were on the rise earlier, also saw a down trend with the police getting tough on their sympathisers.

While individual cases of violence remained in the limelight, the year could also be seen as the year of reform in the police force under Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the Home portfolio. In an attempt at scaling down needless security cover given to VIPs and even former police officers, the Deputy CM withdrew more than 2,000 personnel from security duty following a statewide review. For the first time ever, a message was sent to the force that dereliction of duty would not be tolerated with several police officers being dismissed. Senior-level officers were also suspended.

Police recruitment was also done in the state after more than 10 years with around 18,000 personnel as well as 3,000 women personnel being recruited into the force. Community policing took hold with the Sanjh Kendras attracting 13 lakh applications in the last one year. Modern police stations and control rooms were also established.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121231/punjab.htm#9

The Tribune – Akali Dal emerges stronger

Jangveer Singh, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 27. The year 2012 saw strengthening of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) under its president Sukhbir Singh Badal who emerged as a leader in his own right. But its fag end put his leadership abilities to test with the confidence of the people being shaken by several incidents of brazen disregard of law and order by Akali workers.

While there was a feeling that Sukhbir was one of the architects of the SAD’s victory in the 2007 assembly elections, the 2012 win is being solely ascribed to Sukhbir’s innovative gambles as well as management skills.

In stark contrast, Sukhbir’s rivals have suffered. Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh was kept in limbo by the party high command which is still dithering on who should head the state unit. People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) president Manpreet Singh Badal was earlier seemed to be emerging as the third alternative in the state. But his popularity has been on the wane with his party being hit by mass desertions.

The year also saw Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal receding into the background with power being concentrated in the hands of Sukhbir and his brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia. The latter who emerged as the strongest leader in the Majha belt made a comeback into the ministry, besides continuing to lead the Youth Akali Dal (YAD).

The SAD not only started well by winning the assembly elections in March in league with the BJP but also whitewashed the opposition Congress in the corporation elections in early June. The coalition also easily defeated a demoralised Congress in the Dasuya byelection the same month.

However, there were some early embarrassments with three ministers being forced to resign. Social Welfare Minister Bibi Jagir Kaur resigned after being convicted for wrong doing in the Harpreet case in March. The next to fall was Agriculture Minister Tota Singh who was convicted in May for misusing official machinery. In September, Animal Husbandry Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike was forced to resign following allegations of embezzlement of grants.

Even as the government withstood this embarrassment, it was caught on the wrong foot on the issue of law and order.

The government was found wanting with a perception gaining ground that it was a mute spectator and even encouraged people to vent out their feelings to demand commutation of the death sentence awarded to former Chief Minister Beant Singh assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana. The SAD even embarrassed its coalition partner the BJP by bowing to the hardliners and giving a go-ahead to the SGPC to construct Operation Bluestar Memorial at the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar. The Chief Minister salvaged the situation somewhat after coming under fire by saying only
a gurdwara would be allowed to come up in the form of the memorial.

The government, particularly the SAD, was put on the defensive at the fag end of the year by the brazen conduct of Akali workers. This included the abduction of a Faridkot girl by an Akali worker, the murder of an Assistant-Sub Inspector by another party worker and the beating up of senior police officer SS Mand by yet others.

The Congress, which was in doldrums for most of the year, took up this issue in the Vidhan Sabha and was given further ammunition when Revenue minister Bikram Majithia was caught on camera mouthing expletives against Congress legislator Rana Gurjit Singh.

The year also saw inauguration of the Rs 21,500-crore Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Bathinda and the Integrated Check Post at Attari aimed at boosting the Indo-Pak trade.

Sukhbir also had a successful visit to Pakistan Punjab, besides successfully holding the World Kabaddi Cup. On the negative side, though VAT collections were up, the government continued to struggle financially and it has only partially succeeded in mobilising the much needed revenue.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121228/punjab.htm#5

The Tribune – 2012 Panjab looking back – Sikh clergy; An eventful year for SGPC, Akal Takht

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 26. The Akal Takht and the SGPC hogged the limelight for a better part of the year for their decision to construct the Operation Bluestar Memorial, besides the move of rallying in the support of Delhi blast convict Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar and Beant Singh assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana.

The decision to construct the memorial sparked a huge debate with the Congress and other political parties, including the ruling SAD’s alliance partner BJP, condemning it, arguing that it may revive militancy in the state which has already paid a heavy price in terms of economy and loss of life during the dark days of terrorism. However, unfazed by the criticism, the SGPC went ahead with it while maintaining that the memorial will only house a gurdwara which will spread the message of peace. It justified the move, contending that the memorial had been a long pending demand of Sikhs and the Sikh leadership was well aware of the community’s sentiments. The SGPC handed over the “kar sewa” of the memorial to the Damdami Taksal headed by Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa.

The Sikh high priests then laid the foundation stone of the memorial on June 6, the 28th anniversary of the Army operation. The issue returned to haunt the SGPC once again in October when Lt Gen KS Brar (retd) who led the Army in the Operation Bluestar was attacked by some unidentified assailants in London. While the SGPC remained tightlipped over the incident, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde indirectly asked it to introspect on their move.

The Sikh clergy and the SGPC hit the headlines when they opposed the capital punishment being awarded to Bhullar and Rajoana. The SGPC had even moved clemency petitions before the President to save them from the death sentence. The then President Pratibha Patil had rejected the mercy plea of Bhullar on May 26, 2011, following which the SGPC had filed a clemency petition before the President on July 26, 2011.

Similarly, the Sikh high priests and the SGPC threw their weight behind Rajoana when a court ordered his execution in March this year. The state government had refused to hang him. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal even met the then President Pratibha Patil to seek clemency for Rajoana whose death sentence was later stayed by the Centre.

The Sikh high priests even bestowed the title of Zinda Shaheed (living martyr) on Rajoana. The clergy led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh presented a plaque, a shawl, a “siropa” and a sword to Kamaldeep Kaur, Rajoana’s sister, who received the title on his behalf. Though Rajoana had declined the title, the Akal Takht had refused to withdraw it.

Meanwhile, the fate of the new SGPC House continued to hang in balance even after a year of the SGPC elections held on September 18 last year, as the hearing of the case over the Sehajdhari row is still pending in the Supreme Court.

At present, the SGPC neither has the old House nor the new one. Though the apex court has authorised the SGPC executive (elected in 2010) to manage the Sikh institution’s daily affairs, the legal tangle has hit its normal functioning. This is evident from the fact that perhaps for the first time in its history the SGPC could not pass its annual budget in March this year as there was no House. The SGPC executive passed the vote-on-account for managing the affairs.

The year gone by also saw the Sikh community coming face to face with Dera Radha Soami Satsang, Beas, over the alleged demolition of a gurdwara at Waraich village, although the matter was amicably resolved later on. The controversy also saw various Sikh outfits announcing their move to “boycott” the Akal Takht Jathedar for giving the clean chit to the dera over this issue. The Jathedar had attributed his move to an SGPC panel report which said no sacrilege was committed in “shifting” the gurdwara. Later, the dera head came forward and offered to reconstruct the gurdwara which led to the resolution of the issue.

The Akal Takht Jathedar got embroiled in another controversy when he supported a complete marriage Act for Sikhs instead of mere amendment to the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, though he quickly did a volte face and supported Anand Marriage Amendment Bill, 2012, which was later passed by both the houses of Parliament.

The Wisconsin gurdwara shootout in the US also brought to the fore the fact that the Sikhs abroad are still facing the issue of identity and the community needs to take urgent measures to deal with it.

Taking serious note of the rising instances of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh clergy initiated stringent measures for facilitating a copy of the holy book. The Sikh high priests also issued guidelines for transportation of religious books.

The SGPC finally installed jammers inside the sanctum sanctorum at the Golden Temple while it also started the facility of “pinni parshad” for the devotees visiting the shrine from far-flung areas.

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