Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Amritsar, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member and its former general secretary Kiranjot Kaur has demanded general house meeting of the body to discuss the decision of the Modi government to provide financial assistance to Guru Ka Langar under Seva Bhoj schemes for NGOs serving free food.
In a letter to SGPC chief Gobind Longowal, she today strongly objected to government assistance for Langar that is violation of Sikh Maryada saying this is a unique Sikh institution that symbolises seva, equality and brotherhood and is not just free kitchen as it has been demeaned to.
She said the financial assistance under this scheme would be charity from ministry of culture and not exemption from GST that was the original demand of the SGPC.
The Modi government charity would open the doors for direct interference of the government in the affairs of the SGPC as utilization certificate would have to be submitted. Moreover, the SGPC would have to get itself registered for getting this grant.
It may be mentioned that both Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal followed by Longowal and Akal Takht chief Giani Gurbachan Singh had heartily welcomed this decision portraying as exemption from GST.
This decision amounts to belittling the institution of Guru Ka Langar that is not supposed to be managed with funds made available by the government.
