SAD-BJP opposes separate Sikh body for Haryana, meets Guv

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, February 14

A SAD-BJP delegation on Friday sought the Governor’s intervention against a separate gurdwara committee for Haryana.

After meeting Governor VP Badnore, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal told the media outside Raj Bhawan that the Congress government was conspiring to weaken Sikh institutions, including the SGPC, by supporting the idea of a separate gurdwara body for Haryana.

He demanded immediate withdrawal of an additional affidavit filed by the Capt Amarinder Singh government in the Supreme Court in this connection.

The affidavit supports the Haryana Government by saying that its Assembly is competent to enact a law under the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.

“During the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in Haryana, the idea of a separate Sikh body took root. It was an attempt to interfere in Sikh affairs. But then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh understood the sensitivity of the matter and assured us that the attempt to interfere in Sikh affairs would not be entertained,” the SAD chief said.

The joint delegation also urged the Governor to direct the state government to register a criminal case against minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar, CM’s political adviser Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon and his confidante Manjinder Singh Dhillon for the death former sarpanch Surjit Singh, who was a prime witness in the Behbal Kalan firing case.

BJP leader Madan Mohan Mittal said not providing protection to a prime witness in an important case proved the mala fide intent of the government.