Amritsar-Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, has reacted to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 passed in the Lok Sabha, stating that it is a direct interference by the Centre Government in minority-related matters. He asserted that the bill has been introduced without consulting the concerned parties, which has led to significant controversy. Advocate Dhami remarked that it appears the government’s intent is to curtail minority rights and administer matters according to its own agenda.
He emphasized that the SGPC has always been committed to protecting the rights of minorities and opposes any decision that goes against minority communities. Advocate Dhami also pointed out that the Centre Government has previously attempted to suppress minorities through measures such as the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code, which directly interfered with the personal laws and religious beliefs of various communities. Similarly, the Agniveer recruitment scheme instead of the direct recruitment in the Indian army is an attempt to take away the reservation rights of minorities. Another example is the government’s imposition of mandatory helmet-wearing rules for Sikh soldiers, which faced widespread opposition.
The SGPC President stated that the government should refrain from interfering in minority affairs without consulting them. He stressed that minority communities have the full right to preserve their heritage and religious institutions, and laws like the Waqf (Amendment) Bill are an attempt to weaken these rights. Such legislation, he warned, would negatively impact the rights and concerns of minority communities.
Advocate Dhami concluded that the government’s policy towards minority affairs is not appropriate and urged the government to withdraw the bill. He called for proper consultation with minority representatives before making any such decisions in the future.