Assandh re-elected chief of ad hoc gurdwara committee

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, August 28

Outgoing ad hoc Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) chief Bhupinder Singh Assandh has been unanimously re-elected as the president of the new ad hoc panel.

The 11-member executive body comprises government nominated members— five as office-bearers and six executive body members. The election was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Kurukshetra Sushil Sarwan. While Bhupinder Singh Assandh has been elected president, Sudarshan Singh Sehgal senior vice-president, Ravinder Kaur junior vice-president, Sukhwinder Singh Mandebar general secretary and Gulab Singh Joint secretary. Talvinderpal Singh, Jagsir Singh Mangeyan, Baljit Singh Daduwal, Gurprasad Singh, Parminder Kaur, and Paramjit Singh Makkar have been elected executive body members.

The Haryana Government earlier this month had nominated a new 41-member house of the ad hoc committee to manage, supervise and take over all assets of gurdwaras in Haryana. While 16 members from the previous committee were retained, 25 new members were included in the ad hoc panel.

They will continue to manage the affairs of the HSGMC till the constitution of the management committee or the period of 18 months, whichever is earlier. The tenure of the previous ad hoc committee was marred with controversies and infighting, and it concluded in May-end this year. According to the information, of total, 40 members were present at the meeting today and were given the oath of office.

Earlier, the HSGMC members had gathered at Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi and paid obeisance there.

After getting re-elected, Bhupinder Singh Assandh said, “The new body was elected in a positive atmosphere. I am grateful to the committee members for giving me another opportunity and I assure all community members that we will work with full dedication. We will run the committee with transparency and with the support of all members. The committee is carrying out development works in various gurdwaras and inns in Kurukshetra, Ambala, Sirsa, and other districts of Haryana. The committee will focus on education and ‘Dharma Prachar’ in the state. We will hold the first meeting of the executive committee on Friday in Kurukshetra”.

Baljeet Singh Daduwal said, “There was no opposition or objection from any member and all office-bearers and the executive body was elected unanimously. The committee has done well in the field of education and dharma prachar during its previous tenure and it will continue to work in both these areas in the new tenure too. We will request the Sikh Sangat of Haryana to support the committee.”