Sikh leaders not happy with new ad hoc panel, seek poll

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, August 26

Unhappy with the formation of the new ad hoc panel of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee by the government, instead of declaring dates for the election, the Sikh community leaders have started holding meetings to unite the community and plan a big agitation in the state.

The tenure of the previous committee was got over in May and the community leaders had been demanding the election of the HSGMC. The government on August 14 had nominated a new 41-member house of the ad hoc HSGMC to manage, supervise, and take over all assets of gurdwaras in Haryana. However, the new committee members are yet to be administered the oath of office.

Former HSGMC ad hoc president Jagdish Singh Jhinda, who has been holding meetings with the community leaders, said, “While the Sikh Sangat have been demanding election of the HSGMC so that the elected members can manage the gurdwaras, the Haryana Government has ignored the demand and formed a new committee. We demand that the Haryana Governor should disband the new committee. It has been decided to hold two big meetings of the community in Karnal and Sirsa, and then give a call of agitation. The community will request the new government to get the election declared by November 1, else a big agitation will be launched in Haryana.” Didar Singh Nalvi, president of Sikh Samaj Sanstha, said, “The government hasn’t been following the due procedures and laws and after the tenure of the previous committee ended, the government should have declared the election. The new ad hoc committee is yet to take charge as they are yet to be administered the oath. If they are given the charge, we will immediately approach the court against the new committee and seek election of the committee.”

Baljeet Singh Daduwal, who has been re-nominated in the committee, said, “The Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner will call a meeting in which the oath of office will be administered and the General House will elect the 11-member executive committee but the meeting is yet to be called. We are yet to get any message regarding the meeting. The notification of the new ad hoc committee was issued before the model code of conduct came into force and if the MCC is an issue in administering the oath of office, then the government should take up the matter with the Election Commission of India and resolve the issue. Instead of opposing, people should support the committee.”

Outgoing presiding Bhupinder Singh Assandh, said, “We are hopeful that we will get information regarding a meeting to administer the oath and elect the executive body in a couple of days. A smooth management of the gurdwaras is being ensured. Those who are raising objections against the new committee should understand that they were also the members and presidents of the ad-hoc committee formed by the government. We are hopeful that the election of the panel will be conducted soon.”