The Golden Temple was banned from accepting foreign donations in 1984

- The current permit is for five years

Amritsar 11 September 2020 Friday

The Golden Temple at Amritsar, the highest shrine of the Sikhs, was allowed to receive foreign donations. This was allowed for the first time since 1984.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi banned Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple after launching Operation Blue Star to appease Khalistani leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed forces hiding in the Golden Temple. Now the Narendra Modi government had allowed Sachkhand Shri Harmandir Saheb Shri Darbar Saheb Punjab Association to take foreign donations under the Foreign Donations (Regulation) Act.

This permission was for a period of five years. The Home Ministry had allowed foreign funds to provide free meals and other facilities to devotees visiting the Golden Temple. The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Samiti was managing the langar giving food to the devotees. The Sachkhand Shri Harmandir Saheb Shri Darbar Saheb Punjab Association, established in 1925, has so far been able to contribute only within the country. He was now allowed to accept foreign donations.

According to a report, the Golden Temple spends Rs 40 crore every year to run an anchor. Anyone who comes here can have a meal here. Donations to the Golden Temple are its main source of income. Twelve thousand employees are associated with the Golden Temple. Last year, the Golden Temple received a donation of Rs 250 crore.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to refer to the approval given to the Golden Temple for foreign donations and wrote that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was blessed that Wahe Guruji had accepted his service.