Chandigarh, Nov 12 (IANS) The Golden Temple complex, where the holiest of Sikh shrines Harmandar Sahib is located, was illuminated on Sunday to mark the Bandi Chhor Diwas and Diwali.

There has been festive spirit at the Golden Temple complex in Punjab’s Amritsar since early morning as tens of thousands of people came there to offer prayers and seek blessings.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann extended warm greetings to the people on the historic Bandi Chhor Diwas, to mark the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, and 52 other princes with him, in 1619.

The guru and the princes arrived in Amritsar during Diwali festivities. Since then, the Bandi Chhor Diwas and Diwali celebrations coincide at the Golden Temple complex.

Elsewhere in Punjab, gurdwaras and markets wore a festive look. Hundreds of people thronged various markets in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar and other towns.

The festival spirit for Diwali could also be seen in Chandigarh and towns and cities in Haryana.

In a message, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit said the festival celebrated by people of various religious and sects, strengthens the sense of unity, goodwill and fraternity among the people of the country.

“The festival inspires us to work for the service of humanity,” he added.

Amritsar, Oct 2 (IANS) Amidst the ‘feud’ with the ruling AAP in Punjab, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during his personal visit on Monday paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and performed ‘sewa’ (voluntary service) in the holy shrine.

Donning a blue cloth headgear, Gandhi, after paying obeisance, visited the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, and performed 'sewa' by cleaning tea bowls along with other devotees.

He’s also likely to attend the ritual of 'palki sewa' on Tuesday morning.

This is a private visit and not a political one, said Congress leaders.

The Golden Temple has been witnessing hundreds of devotees lined up since morning to offer prayers owing to the holiday to mark Gandhi Jayanti.

A day before Gandhi’s visit to Golden Temple, former party’s state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu batted for the INDIA bloc.

His assertion comes at a time when a majority of party leaders, comprising state chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Partap Singh Bajwa, have been opposing an alliance with the AAP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The arrest of party legislator Sukhpal Khaira in an NDPS case of 2015 has further escalated the feud between the AAP and the Congress.

In a post on X on Sunday, Sidhu said: “The I.N.D.I.A alliance stands like a tall mountain…a storm here and there will not affect its Grandeur!!! Any attempt to sabotage and breach this shield to safeguard our Democracy will prove futile.

“Punjab must understand that this is an election to choose India’s Prime Minister and not Punjab’s Chief Minister.”

Asking party workers that this is Rahul’s personal visit, Warring said “he is coming to Amritsar to pay obeisance at Sachkhand Shri Harmandir Sahib”.

“This is his personal, spiritual visit, let’s respect his privacy. Request all party workers to not be physically present for this visit. You all can show your support in spirit and meet him the next time,” he wrote on X.

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said Gandhi’s visit coincided with such a crucial time when “India also needs a blessing from the almighty”. 

“The country has been going through a very tumultuous period. The Congress always wishes for a better future for the country. Therefore, apart from making other efforts, it also seeks the kindness of God,” Bajwa added.

New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) In a massive action against the banned terror organisation Sikh For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confiscated two properties of Pannu.

"We have confiscated two properties of Pannu in Punjab's Amritsar and Chandigarh," an NIA official told IANS.  

The official said that the agency has confiscated properties of Pannu which include 46 Kanal of agricultural property in the ancestral village Khankot, located on the outskirts of Amritsar district.

The official also said that it has also confiscated his residential property in Sector 15 area of Chandigarh.

The agency sleuths also put the hoarding outside the property of Pannu informing him about the anti-terror probe agency's action.

After confiscation, Pannu lost rights to the property and the property now belongs to the government. In 2020, his properties were attached, which meant he could not sell the property.

SFJ, a fringe organisation, was declared unlawful under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The action against Pannu has been taken in connection with the NIA's case filed on April 5, 2020 under sections 120-B, 124-A, 153-A 153-B and 17, 18 and 19 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The case relates to funding of terrorist activities in Punjab from abroad, creating disharmony among communities and radicalising youth for terrorist activities.

Chandigarh, June 19 (IANS) The Punjab Cabinet on Monday approved an amendment in the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925 to make transmission of Gurbani from the Golden Temple "free for all".

The Bill would be tabled in the special session of the Assembly for discussion and passing on Tuesday.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the apex religious body for Sikhs, reacted sharply to the move, asking the government not to interfere in religious matters.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the resolution to make transmission of Gurbani is a historic decision aimed at ensuring the free-to-air telecast of sacred Gurbani from Sri Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar.

He said as per the Sikh Gurdwara Amendment Act 2023, the telecast of Gurbani would be free-to-air in India and abroad. He said the broadcasters will have to ensure that no commercial is aired half an hour before and after the video or audio telecast of the Gurbani.

On SGPC's allegation that the state government has no right to amend the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925, Mann said the Supreme Court in its 2014 decision has made it clear that it's not an inter-state Act but a state Act.

He said the Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925 has no word on broadcast or live telecast of Gurbani.

He said it was misused in 2012 for giving exclusive rights to air the Gurbani for 11 years to one TV channel owned by the Badal family.

"As a result, Sikhs have to subscribe to this channel which is expensive as it's clubbed with three to four other channels. It should be free of cost," he added.

Mann said now the SGPC is making the case for floating a tender for airing Gurbani but the Badal family may again get the exclusive rights through the tender.

Responding to the Cabinet decision, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami said: "This (Gurdwara Act) can only be amended by the Centre as the Punjab government has got not right to do so."