Issue of Sikh Women Performing Kirtan to be Taken Up Again

August 18, 2005

Source: SikhSangat

http://www.sikhsangat.org/publish/article_311.shtml

On August 18, 2005 SikhSangat reported, "Despite a lot of pressure, the Sikh clergy today refused to toe the line of the SGPC for giving a final nod to baptised Sikh women for performing kirtan in the sanctum sanctorum of Harmandar Sahib. It is learnt that Bibi Jagir Kaur, SGPC President, personally spoke to Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht for constituting a committee for a code of conduct for women who wish to perform kirtan and clean the sanctum sanctorum. Mr Waryam Singh, secretary dharm parchar, Mr Harbir Singh Bhanwar, media adviser, and Mr Harjit Singh, personal assistant to the SGPC chief, took the typed paper to Jathedar Vedanti but he refused to sign the paper. However, after the initial hiccups, the Sikh clergy today gave clear indications that gender discrimination had no place in Sikhism and hence the case regarding allowing baptised Sikh women to perform kirtan in the sanctum sanctorum of Harmandar Sahib would again be taken up at the next meeting, being convened shortly."