Jagdish Jhinda elected chief of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee

Jagdish Singh Jhinda was on Friday elected the president of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) here.

The elected and co-opted members assembled at Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi to elect the president and office-bearers of the committee.

Of the 49 members, 48 participated in the election.

While Akal Panthak Morcha leaders and Sikh Samaj Sanstha president Didar Nalvi demanded election through voting, backed by the Baljit Daduwal group, Jhinda, who claimed to have the support of 30 members, was elected by a show of hands.

After finding their requests being turned down, the opposition group staged a walkout and criticised the election process.

Later, Jhinda announced the committee’s 11-member executive body -- five office-bearers and six executive body members.

Gurmeet Singh was elected senior vice president, Gurbir Singh vice president, Angrej Singh general secretary and Balvinder Singh joint secretary.

Karnail Singh, Palvinder Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Rupinder Singh, Jagtar Singh and Tajinderpal Singh were elected the executive body members.

Jhinda said, “We have struggled for over two decades for the formation of the HSGMC and get the rights to manage the Sikh religious places in the state. We will run the committee with transparency with the support of all the members.”

Meanwhile, Akal Panthak Morcha leader Harmanpreet Singh said, “The rules were flouted. They supported the Jhinda group under the government’s pressure, and voting was not held. If they were confident, they should have gone for voting. The morcha will move the Punjab and Haryana High Court and Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission against Jhinda’s appointment.”