SNE NETWORK.AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH.
In the annual budget meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Amritsar, a budget of Rs 1386.47 crore has been approved. Meanwhile, Nihang jathebandis led by Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma staged a sit-in protest outside the SGPC headquarters. Apart from Harnam Singh Dhumma, Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee and Haryana Gurdwara Management Committee were also a part of it.
SGPC chief Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that a budget of Rs 1,386.47 crore has been presented for the financial year 2025-26, which is about Rs 125.5 crore more than the budget of Rs 1,260.97 crore for the last year 2024-25. This increase reflects the commitment of SGPC to strengthen various religious, educational and social initiatives.
On the other hand, Nihang jathebandis were stopped on the way to the Golden Temple, where the situation remained tense. This protest of Damdami Taksal was against the recent decision of the SGPC executive to appoint and remove jathedars. The organization demanded the SGPC to withdraw its decision.
Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma issued a statement in this regard and said that the way the SGPC has decided to appoint and remove jathedars is against Sikh traditions and decorum. The SGPC should reconsider its decision and take into account the opinion of the Sikh Sangat.
Key highlights of the 2025-26 budget
Religious propagation: Rs 110 crore has been allocated for religious propagation, which includes Amrit Sanchar, free Gurmat literature distribution, Gurmat schools, Sikh missionary colleges, religious propagation campaigns, Gurmat camps and Sikh missions.
Education: Rs 55.80 crore has been set aside for educational institutions, which includes staff salaries, infrastructure development, essential equipment and sports activities.
Health services: Rs 5.50 crore has been allocated for Baba Budha Ji Charitable Hospital, which includes staff salaries, laboratory expenses, electricity bills and essential supplies.
Sports Department: Rs 3.09 crore has been allocated for the Sports Department, which includes salaries of players, school fees, nutrition, travel expenses and maintenance of playgrounds.
Social welfare: Rs 3.20 crore has been allocated for assistance to social service organisations and religious education.
Walkout in the middle of the meeting
During the budget meeting, member Bibi Kiranjit Kaur put forward a vote in favor of the Jathedars. But she was stopped from giving the vote because according to the rules, only that vote can be cast which has the approval of the interim committee. After this, there was a ruckus in the middle of the session and many members including Bibi Kiranjit Kaur, Bibi Jagir Kaur walked out of the meeting.
Security tightened outside SGPC headquarters
In view of the demonstration of Damdami Taksal, tight security arrangements were made outside the SGPC headquarters. Police and SGPC’s own task force were deployed to deal with any untoward incident. SGPC officials say that the institution takes decisions according to its constitution and rules, and the decision to appoint Jathedars has also been taken under this process.
Last year, a budget of 1260 crores was passed
The SGPC had passed a budget of Rs 1,260.97 crore for the financial year 2024-25, which was 14% more than the previous year. In this budget, priority was given to the management of gurdwaras, educational institutions and religious propaganda activities. A provision of Rs 994.51 crore was made for the maintenance and operation of gurdwaras. While 251 crores were allocated for educational institutions.
An amount of Rs 100 crore was set aside to promote religious propaganda, which included various programs to propagate Sikhism, organize historical Guru Parvs and educate the Sangat.