Akal Takht Chief Calls for Talks on Separate SGPC for Haryana

Sources said a draft for a separate Gurdwara Committee was ready and the Haryana Government was expected to call a session of the Legislative Assembly to seek its approval.

CHANDIGARH: Akal Takht leader Giani Gurbachan Singh on Tuesday invited leaders of rival factions of ad hoc Haryana Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee-- Didar Singh Nalvi and Jagdish Singh Jhinda -- along with four others at the Akal Takht on Wednesday to discuss their demand of a separate SGPC for Haryana. “I hope that I will be able to convince them not to form a separate body for management of gurdwaras in Haryana, if there are any differences those will be sorted out,” Gurbachan Singh said.

Sources said a draft for a separate Gurdwara Committee was ready and the Haryana Government was expected to call a session of the Legislative Assembly to seek its approval.

“The committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha has submitted its report in favour of separate SGPC for Haryana and the government would take decision in view of the larger interest of Sikhs of the state. The report was being legally examined,” Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda said.

On Monday, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar threatened legal action against the Congress Government in Haryana for its involvement in the issue.

When Hooda’s attention was drawn towards the SGPC threat, the Chief Minister said “same law applies to all.”

In a major setback to the SGPC-led by the Shiromani Akali Dal, one of its elected members Bhupinder Singh Assandh openly supported the formation of a separate committee in Haryana. There are 11 SGPC members from Haryana.

Last week SGPC members from Haryana met Gurbachan Singh and apprised him of the prevailing situation in that state over the issue.  They reportedly told him that certain Sikh leaders, including Didar Singh Nalvi and Jagdish Singh Jhinda, were supporting the Haryana Chief Minister to divide the SGPC and that efforts were on to form a separate body for managing the affairs of gurdwaras in the state.

“It is learnt that certain elements are supporting the Congress-led Government to form a separate committee. This will not be tolerated. Any Sikh leader, who tries to weaken the SGPC or divide it will have to face action from the Akal Takht,” Gurbachan Singh said.

He also said if anyone has any complaint regarding management of gurdwaras anywhere, it can be discussed.

“But such acts to weaken the SGPC will not be tolerated,” he added.

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