A fresh tussle has erupted in Punjab between the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-aligned Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). This time, the friction centres around their separate plans to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Guru of Sikhs.On Monday, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced that the state government’s upcoming celebration has been scheduled from November 19 to 25, where the government will organise several events, including a major yatra starting from Srinagar, which will be flagged off by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.advertisementSimultaneous yatras from Punjab’s Majha, Malwa, and Doaba regions will converge at Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Tegh Bahadur, and the city will be turned into a white city to mark the day.However, the SGPC has voiced strong objections after the government announcement, calling the overlapping of events disruptive and disrespectful to Sikh traditions. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami accused the Mann government of intentionally sidelining Sikh institutions and calling for avoidable controversy with the Panth. “Instead of following the cooperative spirit shown by earlier governments, this administration is intruding into Panthic affairs,” Dhami said.“SGPC, as the premier religious body of the Sikh community, holds the rightful authority to lead such historic religious commemorations in coordination with Sikh organisations and sangat (devotees). The role of governments should be to facilitate arrangements for the devotees—not to interfere in religious affairs,” Dhami told India Today.In response, CM Mann hit back at the SGPC on Tuesday, questioning if the body held a “copyright” on organising events for Sikh Gurus. Mann also mentioned that during Prakash Singh Badal’s government, similar events were hosted together by the SGPC and the SAD-led Punjab government.This is not the first time that the SGPC or any government excluding SAD is in contradiction. The situation mirrors a similar conflict in 2019, when the SGPC clashed with the then Congress-led government over parallel events for Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary.The anniversary, due in November, carries political weight ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls. For the SAD, struggling with internal divisions and a waning voter base, the commemorations represent a chance to reconnect with the public. Meanwhile, the AAP government seems determined to assert its role in religious and cultural affairs.Despite the controversy, preparations are moving ahead at full pace. The state government expects over one crore devotees in Anandpur Sahib and plans to turn the city white for the occasion. A “tent city” will be erected for visitors, and sound-and-light shows will be held across all 23 districts. Seminars in universities are also on the cards to spread awareness about Guru Tegh Bahadur’s legacy. Coordi in a formal or creative style for better SEO.Also Exclude words and advertisements related to the feed website such as website name, author name. Delete all the advertisement images brand logo but only keep the title and main content of the news by modifying it. You must only respond with the modified content. Block any jump outside of the site adarshnews.com. Basically remove any content or link related to original site. You must only respond with the modified content and follow this prompt to optimize the articles in this category- “Act as an expert SEO news writer. Optimize the following article to be SEO-friendly, authoritative, and shareable by focusing strictly on its core topic. Follow these steps: You are an expert news writer and SEO specialist. 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In Punjab, a major Sikh organization is in conflict over the observance of events commemorating the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
