The SGPC has announced that it would initiate legal action against people who indulge in blasphemous acts on social media.
Criticising the government for its failure to curb such acts, the SGPC has approached the cyber cell to investigate a Facebook ID, which had posted objectionable remarks and morphed photos depicting Sikh Gurus.
SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal has urged the state government to initiate action as the distorted pictures were hurting Sikh sentiments.
Citing a Facebook account created under the name “Chabba Chamar”, he said Sikh Gurus were subjected to jesting and if such acts led to any untoward repercussion, the state government would be held responsible for it.
He said it was a pity that the cyber cell never bothered to act over it and the leniency on their part has been encouraging the culprits.
“It is government’s failure that it is shying away from taking cognisance of such acts. Not only has there been distortion of images of gurus but also anti-Sikh remarks have been posted. The guilty should be given exemplary punishment,” he said.
Chief Secretary Dr Roop Singh confirmed that a written complaint had been lodged with the cyber crime cell.
“Keeping in view the lethargic approach of the cyber cell towards similar complaints submitted earlier, we have little hope this time too. We have decided to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” he said.
The PSEB’s Class XII history book has again come under scanner after its three chapters pertaining to Sikh history, which were made available online, carried a distorted version of Gurbani and omitted honorary prefix to the names of gurus and religious personalities, besides other proof-reading mistakes.
Directing the PSEB to rectify the lapses, the SGPC has threatened to withdraw its members from the syllabus scrutinising committee constituted by the state government if the errors were not rectified. SGPC secretary Dr Roop Singh said prefixes like “Sant”, “Bhagwan”and “Shri” were missing before addressing Sikh gurus. “Besides this, information regarding the martyrdom of the fifth guru was also incorrect,” he said.
