11.9.20

Golden Temple can get foreign donations

The home ministry has granted a licence to Amritsar’s Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib-Darbar Sahib — popularly known as the Golden Temple — to receive foreign donations.

The association has, since its creation in 1925, offered free ‘langar’ to devotees and public; extended financial assistance to the poor, needy, students and medical patients; and assisted with disaster relief with the domestic donations received by it. Now, with its registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010, it can also receive contributions from Sikh devotees and others across the world for these objectives.

Home minister Amit Shah termed the registration of Sri Harmandir Sahib under FCRA as a “pathbreaking” decision. “Sri Darbar Sahib’s divinity gives strength to us. For decades, the Sangat worldwide was unable to serve there. Modi government’s decision to allow FCRA (licence) to the Sri Harmandir Sahib deepens the connect of Seva between the Sangat globally and the Sri Darbar Sahib. A blessed moment!”, he tweeted.

He added: “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji is blessed that Wahe Guru ji has taken Seva from him. The decision on FCRA at the Sri Harmandir Sahib is a pathbreaking one...”

A home ministry release said Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib, Sri Darbar Sahib, Punjab, had applied for registration under FCRA on May 27, 2020. On Thursday, the decision to register it as an association of "religious nature" under FCRA, was communicated by MHA. The registration shall remain valid for five years, after which it can be renewed.

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