The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has officially announced that it will not send a Sikh Jatha to Pakistan this year for the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The committee has cited the prevailing tensions between countries behind their decision. The announcement was made on Monday, later confirmed by SGPC member Harbhajan Singh Vakta.

Every year, SGPC organises pilgrimage for such occasions, but this year they will not be facilitating the travel. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary will be observed on June 30. The decision has been taken in the wake of developments following India’s Operation Sindoor. The government had imposed restrictions on travel through the Attari-Wagah border checkpost.

Harbhajan Singh Vakta in conversation with ANI stated, “Every year a few ‘jattha’ are sent by SGPC to Pakistan for darshan. One of these is the ‘jattha’ for Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary…Now, SGPC has decided not to send the ‘jattha’ this time. We had made an official announcement yesterday. Looking at the situation between the two countries, this time no ‘jattha’ will be sent for Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary.”

Earlier, Secretary of the Shiromani Committee Partap Singh, informing about the decision asked Sikh pilgrims to contact travel department of the SGPC for more information.

Who Was Maharaja Ranjit Singh?

Born on 13 November, 1780, Ranjit Singh was the founder and first maharaja of the Sikh Empire. He ruled from 1801 until his death in 1839. Maharaja Ranjit Singh restored and built historic Sikh Gurdwaras. He used to celebrate his victories by offering thanks at the Harmandir Sahib.