Centre grants FCRA registration to association running ‘langar’ at Golden Temple

Mukesh Ranjan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 10

As the government granting FCRA registration to an Amritsar-based association to receive foreign funds to serve langar to devotees of Golden temple, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is blessed that "Wahe Guruji has taken seva from him”.

In a series of tweets, the Home Minister said, the Darbar Sahib’s divinity gives strength to us. For decades, the Sangat worldwide was unable to serve there.”

He then went on to add: “Modi government’s decision to allow FCRA to the Sri Harmandir Sahib deepens the connect of Seva between the Sangat globally and Sri Darbar Sahib. A blessed moment!”

Shah further said, “The decision on FCRA at the Sri Harmandir Sahib is a pathbreaking one which will once again showcase the outstanding spirit of service of our Sikh sisters and brothers.”

Union Food Processing Minister and Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal thanked the Union Home Minister for granting registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulatory Act (FCRA) to the Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Saheb Sri Darbar Saheb Punjab Association. She said this will enable the shrine to receive ‘Sewa’ from all over the world and go a long way in propagating Gurusahab’s philosophy of ‘sarbat da bhala’.

“Happy to share that MHA has granted approval under FCRA to Sri Harmandir Sahib. This will enable the shrine to receive ‘sewa’ from all over the world & go a long way in propagating Gurusahab’s philosophy of ‘sarbat da bhala’. I’m grateful to @AmitShah Ji for making this possible,” she tweeted.

Earlier sources in the MHA said, the Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Saheb Sri Darbar Saheb Punjab Association has been granted registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. The FCRA registration of the association will be valid for a period of five years.

Langar services in Golden temple are provided by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. The Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Saheb Sri Darbar Saheb Punjab Association, which applied for FCRA registration on May 27, has been running ‘langar’ services to the devotees of Golden temple in Amritsar in Punjab, they said.

Set up in 1925, the organisation so far has been taking donations from within the country. With the granting of the FCRA registration by the MHA, the organisation can now take foreign contributions, which it can spend for running ‘langar’ services and help poor and needy.