HSGMC chief Jhinda faces backlash: 17 members withdraw support, demand resignation

The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) is facing an internal power struggle due to a fractured mandate. President Jagdish Singh Jhinda has failed to gather the requisite two-third majority to convene a general house meeting for the second consecutive time, prompting Opposition members to demand his resignation on “moral grounds”.

Former ad-hoc HSGMC presidents Baljit Singh Daduwal and Didar Singh Nalvi, along with other governing council and executive members, met in Panchkula to strategise Jhinda’s ouster. Daduwal stated, “Jhinda’s failure to hold the house meeting due to lack of quorum shows that the majority of members have turned against his ‘dictatorial’ style, and he has lost the moral right to lead.”

Jhinda blamed a “handful” of members for intentionally derailing the proceedings. The general house meeting to finalise the annual budget of Rs 104 crore for 2025-2026 was also stalled, affecting development, religious, and social programmes.

Jhinda stated that a group of members wants to indulge in corruption, which won’t be tolerated. He claims to have a group close to matching the requisite quorum and will schedule a meeting soon.

Jhinda had previously lodged a formal complaint with the Akal Takht Secretariat on January 21, holding Baljit Singh Daduwal accountable for misleading members, embezzling gurdwara funds, using abusive language, and obstructing HSGMC administration. Jhinda is seeking intervention from Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj.

Jhinda also accused Daduwal of wrongly projecting himself as the Dharam Parchar Committee chairman, despite being removed from the post in January.

HSGMC senior vice-president Gurmeet Singh blamed Jhinda’s autocratic attitude for the chaotic affairs. Gurmeet Singh had challenged the legitimacy of the Rs 104 crore budget in Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission, citing lack of quorum.