4/24/2003 9:48:19 AM

There is no need for the SGPC to seek public opinion on Sikh women’s right to perform seva at Sri Darbar Sahib. The right of gender equality was given to Sikh women by founder of the religion, Sri Guru Nanak Devji.

These observations were made by members of the Voices of Freedom (VoF), a human rights organisation, which has questioned the SGPC move of convening a meeting for April 25 to seek public opinion on the issue of women’s right to perform seva at Sri Darbar Sahib.

Mr Navkiran Singh, Director, Voices of Freedom, said here today that the SGPC had been asked to implement the right of equality given to women and not to debate the existence of this right. Gender equality was not negotiable in this case, he added.

A subcommittee constituted by the SGPC has sought views of various Sikh organisations on the subject by convening a meeting for April 25. The controversy started in February this year when the SGPC authorities disallowed UK-based amritdhari Sikh women — Ms Mejinderpal Kaur and Ms Lakhbir Kaur — from going anywhere near Palki Sahib during the seva. The two women later lodged a formal complaint with the Jathedar of Akal Takht and the SGPC for immediate restoration of this right to Sikh women.

Ms Mejinderpal Kaur, who was present at the press conference, wanted that discrimination against Sikh women must end. She announced that she would attend the April 25 meeting. “When I met the SGPC chief, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, he agreed that women should be allowed seva at Sri Darbar Sahib complex.”, she claimed.

Mr Navkiran Singh said that the Voices of Freedom would submit a petition signed by 132 Sikh organisations, both from India and abroad, to the SGPC subcommittee on April 25. The petition wants the SGPC to take steps to restore women the right of seva at Sri Darbar Sahib.