"SGPC's Agreement with Media Channel Ending Soon Sparks Debate Over Free Telecast and Exclusive Rights"
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called on the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to clarify the live broadcast arrangements for 'Gurbani' from the Golden Temple starting July 24. The SGPC's agreement with a media channel to telecast the Sikh religious hymn is coming to an end, leading to a disagreement between the state government and the SGPC.
Mann, representing the AAP-led state government, believes that the broadcast of Gurbani should be freely available on all TV channels. He has criticized the SGPC's decision to allow only one private channel to broadcast the religious hymn and questions if this privilege will be granted indefinitely to a single family.
In the past, Mann had offered to bear all expenses for broadcasting Gurbani across various channels. The Punjab Assembly had recently passed the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aiming to ensure free-to-air telecast of Gurbani. However, the SGPC opposed this amendment, leading to further tensions.
Recently, the SGPC announced plans to launch its own YouTube channel and satellite channel for the live broadcast of Gurbani. The current agreement with the private channel (PTC) for Gurbani broadcast will expire on July 23.
Mann had urged the Punjab governor to sign the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, but the governor expressed the need to examine the legality of the June 20-21 session first.
SGPC chief Dhami emphasized that the rights to broadcast Gurbani will remain with the SGPC, and no other platform will be able to broadcast it without their permission.
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