Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami has warned that strict action will be taken against any television channel or social media platform broadcasting live Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib without the committee’s permission.
Dhami said the SGPC alone holds the rights to broadcast Gurbani from the Golden Temple.
“The SGPC has the exclusive right to telecast Gurbani from Sri Harmandir Sahib. If GTC Network or any other channel is relaying the SGPC’s YouTube feed without prior permission, it is illegal and unconstitutional. We warn them to stop such broadcasts immediately,” he said.
The statement comes amid renewed debate over Gurbani broadcasts. Earlier, it was being suggested that the SGPC, which has faced allegations of maintaining a monopoly over Gurbani telecasts, had softened its earlier stand on the issue. The committee had previously opposed the re-streaming of Gurbani without authorisation but was recently perceived to have adopted a more flexible approach.
Before the SGPC’s latest warning, GTC Punjabi had begun airing live Gurbani twice daily from Sri Harmandir Sahib, with the morning broadcast from 3:15 am to 7:30 am and the evening broadcast from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
GTC Network founder and Managing Director Dr Rabindra Narayan confirmed that the channel was using the SGPC’s official YouTube feed and relaying it through satellite television and other digital platforms for viewers worldwide.
He said the network began the live telecast after recent statements made during the Punjab Assembly session and had also informed the SGPC in writing about the arrangement.
