Gurdwara poll: War of words intensifies, candidates allege misuse of funds
As the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) elections draw closer, war of words among Sikh community leaders contesting from various wards have escalated.
The elections for 40 wards in the state are scheduled for January 19.
Aiming to strengthen their positions, the candidates and their supporters have intensified campaigning and are targeting opposition candidates and their groups with allegations of misuse of funds, mismanagement during their tenure and violations of 'Sikh maryada'.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Azad) president Baljit Singh Daduwal, said, “The Sikhs of Haryana have struggled a lot to get the rights of managing gurdwaras in Haryana and get them freed from the control of the Badals, but a group (Haryana Sikh Panthak Dal), on the directions of the Badals, is contesting in Haryana. They had misused funds of gurdwaras. Didar Singh Nalvi and Jagdish Singh Jhinda were also involved in mismanagement during their terms. They all have joined hands and are spreading wrong information against us. I appeal to the Sikhs of Haryana to stay united and ensure that the rights of managing the gurdwaras remain with the Sikhs of Haryana.”
Baldev Singh Kaimpur, president, Haryana Sikh Panthak Dal, said, “Baljit Singh Daduwal has been misguiding voters and has understood that the Sikhs are not going to vote for him and his candidates. They misused funds and violated 'Sikh maryada', while forcefully taking over the management of gurdwaras from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. The SGPC has always raised the voice of Sikhs across the world, but the HSGMC has failed and it has allowed the government to interfere in the management of the gurdwaras.”
Similarly, Sikh Samaj Sanstha president Didar Singh Nalvi, claimed, “We are getting a good response from the public. The government-nominated committee has failed to manage the gurdwaras and their properties efficiently, and even failed to take over all the properties. We have been telling people how the funds were misused. If given a chance, we will get the audit done and manage the gurdwaras as per the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Act and Sikh 'maryada'.”
Former HSGMC (ad hoc) chief and president of Panthak Dal Jhinda Group Jagdish Singh Jhinda, said, “We have struggled for a separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee but the government-nominated committee has failed to work as per the expectations of the Sikh sangat. We will not extend support to Daduwal. We appeal the BJP and the government not to interfere in the gurdwara poll.”
