Akal Takht Jathedar, SGPC condemn changes in Takht Shri Hazur Sahib Act

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 7

The Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has strongly condemned the amendment in the Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abhchal Nagar Sahib Act, 1956, done by the Government of Maharashtra recently.

The new norms of the board of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded, one of the five temporal seats of Sikh faith, has opened the door for the government to directly nominate 12 members out of a total of 17 members of the board. The number of members nominated by the SGPC has been reduced from four to two, whereas the nomination of Chief Khalsa Diwan and Hazuri Sachkhand Diwan has been omitted. Similarly the clause of including two Sikh MPs has also been abolished.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said that it was highly condemnable that Maharashtra government has increased the quota of government nominated members and reduce the members of Sikh organisations in Hazur Sahib Gurdwara Board. “It was a deliberate attempt to take the direct control of the historic Sikh Shrine by the Maharashtra government which could not be tolerated”, the Jathedar said.

Jathedar has ordered the SGPC to have parley with the Maharashtra government instantly to undo this amendment as it has hurt the sentiments of global Sikh community.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said that a strong objection in writing has already been sent to the Maharashtra CM Ek Nath Shinde and an early appointment has been sought for meeting with SGP/C delegation.

“It appears to be nothing but a conspiracy by the government to establish its undue dominance. I appeal to the CM, Maharashtra, to reconsider this move as it has resulted in great resentment among the Sikh community”, he said.

Earlier instances

• In July 2018, the Maharashtra Government had proposed to include its six more members into the board by amending the Takht Act 1956, but revoked the proposal after the protest by the SGPC and other Sikh bodies
• In 2019, Maharashtra Government was inclined to increase its representation and appointing the president of the board, but took a U-turn after contest by the then Union minister Harsimrat Badal and various Sikh organisations
• In August, 2023, the Maharashtra Government had appointed a non-Sikh Nanded Collector Abhijit Rajendra Raut as the administrator of the Hazur Sahib Board, but later replaced him with retired IAS Dr Vijay Satbir Singh following protest by the SGPC

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