Ex-Sikh gurdwara mgmt panel members demand reforms, protest govt action

A meeting of former members of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee was held today at Gurdwara Shri Dasvi Patshahi, followed by a press conference. Advocate Chandeep Singh Khurana, Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala, Amarinder Singh, Harpal Singh Pali, and Jasbir Singh Bhati addressed the media. They spoke about the long struggle they had to face to form the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, which was established during Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s government after a legal battle against the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee).

Warn of protest outside SP office

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The former members of fthe Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee also condemned the 2020 sacrilege incident in Sirsa’s Santnagar and criticised the government for filing cases against 14 Sikh leaders in 2024, calling it an anti-Sikh move. They demanded the withdrawal of these cases and reforms in the election process for the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Committee. They warned of a protest at the Sirsa SP’s office if their demands were not met by Monday.

Though the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Haryana Sikhs on September 20, 2022, the state government led by BJP’s Manohar Lal Khattar dissolved the committee and appointed a new one under Mahant Karamjit Singh, which was short-lived. Later, the Saini government also dissolved this committee and formed another one. The former members accused the authorities of mismanaging funds in the name of religious promotion, citing thefts and misconduct at various gurdwaras.

They also condemned the 2020 sacrilege incident in Sirsa’s Santnagar and criticised the government for filing cases against 14 Sikh leaders in 2024, calling it an anti-Sikh move. They demanded the withdrawal of these cases and reforms in the election process for the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Committee. They warned of a protest at the Sirsa SP’s office if their demands were not met by Monday.