President of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has taken notice of the move of the student organization Sath to stop the seminar being organized at the university by the Panjab University, Chandigarh, and condemned it in the strongest terms. Advocate Dhami said in a statement that not allowing the seminar dedicated to the 350th centenary of the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji is an anti-Sikh act and a direct attack on freedom of thought.
It is very sad and worrying that an attempt is being made to suppress the voice of Sikh scholars and thinkers in the Panjab University, built on the soil of Punjab, said Dhami. Advocate Dhami said that when the Sikh community is celebrating the 350th centenary of the martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, every organization is organizing events and seminars expressing its devotion to the Guru Sahib. University administration itself should have made the necessary arrangements for this seminar, but on the contrary, Sikh organizations are also being prevented from paying homage to the Guru Sahib.
Advocate Dhami said that the cancellation of the seminar by the university administration due to objections on Sikh scholars is completely irrational and discriminatory. This act is going to cause mental anguish to the Sikhs.
The SGPC President demanded clarification in this matter from the Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Student Welfare of the university and asked the Central Government and the Punjab Government to take this matter seriously and take strict action against the culprits.
He said that the SGPC is committed to the propagation of the teachings of the Gurus and any attempt by any organization to suppress the Sikh identity or views will not be tolerated. He said that the SGPC will conduct an investigation at its own level and take action in this matter.