Parliament Question: Religious Affairs of the Sikhs

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No-3213 ANSWERED ON – 11/03/2026 RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS OF THE SIKHS 3213. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL: Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken note of recent newspaper reports regarding the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) expressing concern about alleged Governmental interference in the religious affairs of the Sikh community; (b) if so, whether any steps have been taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that such interference in Sikh religious affairs does not recur including any consultations or meetings held with the SGPC in this regard; and (c) the details of institutional mechanism through which the Government addresses issues relating to the Sikh community along with the details of the meetings held, decisions taken and representations received from Sikh religious bodies during the last three years? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU) (a) to (c): No Sir. No such matter has been received in the National Commission of Minorities or taken up by the Commission. As per section 9(d) of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992, the Commission took up all the grievances received from minority individuals / institutions / bodies / organizations with appropriate authorities in Central Government and State Governments. As regards meeting held with the Sikh community, a total of 13 meetings were conducted with representatives of the Sikh community on various issues during the period 2023-24 to 2025-26 (till 05.03.2026). The number of representations received from Sikh community during the year 2023- 24 to 2025-26 (till 05.03.2026) is annexed as Annexure-I. *****ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (C) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3213 REGARDING RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS OF THE SIKHS ASKED BY SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL. The number of representations received from Sikh community during the year 2023- 24 to 2025-26 (till 05.03.2026) in NCM are given below: Year No. of representations 2023-24 307 2024-25 221 2025-26 (till 05.03.2026) 140