Protest march to be held up to Amritsar DC office on October 4

March from Takht Kesgarh Sahib & Takht Damdama Sahib to Akal Takht Sahib on October 7

Haryana CM to be confronted, protest to be held in Delhi too

Chief Justice of India urged to form five-member constitutional bench to review matter

Amritsar, September 30:

During the special meeting of members of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) against the Supreme Court’s judgment upholding validity of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014, it has been announced to intensify the struggle at all levels.

This meeting was held at historic Teja Singh Samundri Hall in Amritsar in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, which was attended by head granthi of Sri Harmandar Sahib Giani Jagtar Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh, head granthi of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Malkeet Singh, Giani Jaswant Singh, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami and nearly 90 SGPC members on Friday.

On this occasion several resolutions were passed. An appeal was made to Chief Justice of India Justice Uday Umesh Lalit to issue an order to form a five-member constitutional bench to review HSGMC Act related judgment. Moreover, the Home Minister of India was asked that the Government of India should file a review petition in the Supreme Court in the HSGMC Act related case and pass an ordinance in the Parliament to cancel the validity of HSGMC Act, 2014. The Home Minister was also requested to further initiate and complete the process for establishing the All India Sikh Gurdwaras Act.

During the meeting a call was made to hold a protest march from Sri Darbar Sahib to the office of Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, and hand over a memorandum against interference in Sikh affairs by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and HSGMC Act, on October 4, 2022. Another call has been given to organise a march for awareness among Sikh Sangat on this issue from Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, to Akal Takht Sahib.

It was also decided that with the support of Haryana Sikh Sangat, Haryana Chief Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar will be confronted and if the government still does not awaken, then SGPC members will hold strong protests in Delhi too.

Adopting an aggressive stand against the governments, the speakers including SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that for the safety of the Supreme Sikh body SGPC, the entire Khalsa Panth will struggle with unity under the leadership of Akal Takht Sahib. The tactics and conspiracies of parties including Congress, BJP and its parent organisation RSS and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to weaken Sikh power will not be allowed to succeed.

Advocate Dhami said that the seed of a separate Haryana Gurdwara Committee was planted by Congress, while it has been watered by BJP and AAP at the behest of RSS.

“If a separate Gurdwara committee for Haryana is formed today, then tomorrow these anti-Sikh forces will go to the extent of taking over management of Takhts and historical Gurdwara Sahibs in Punjab”, said Advocate Dhami.

In his address during the meeting, Advocate Dhami presented a special resolution and appealed to the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib to call a meeting of all Sikh sampradas, Sabha Societies, Gurmat Taksals, Nihung jathebandis (organisations), Sewa Panthis, Nirmalas and prominent Sikhs of country and abroad and after taking their opinion on this serious issue, to take concrete decision after holding gathering of five high priests (Jathedars).

SGPC President said that this is an attack on the soul of Sikh Qaum, with the wounds of which, the Sikh community is ready to move forward in an organized manner.

Speaking on this occasion Jathedar Raghbir Singh said that the acts of breaking SGPC are absolutely, but at this hard time, it is necessary to keep Sikh power together as well as to maintain brotherhood. He said a special meeting of five high priests will be convened soon at Akal Takht Sahib and in-depth discussion will be held.

During the meeting, various speakers expressed their views and rejected the separate Gurdwara Committee for Haryana, while saying that the governments from time to time have committed great excesses and deceived the Sikhs, due to which, there has always been a great resentment among the Sikhs.

Those who addressed in the meeting included former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, and Bhai Gobind Singh Longowal, General Secretary Jathedar Karnail Singh Panjoli, members Sarwan Singh Kular, Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta, Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Bhai Amarjit Singh Chawla, Bhai Manjit Singh Bhurakohna, Bhai Ram Singh, Baldev Singh Kaimpuri, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, Kulwant Singh Manhan, Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan, Harpal Singh Jalla, Gurbachan Singh Karmuwala, Bhai Ajaib Singh Abhyasi, and Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar.

After the meeting, the SGPC members led by SGPC President Advocate Dhami went to Akal Takht Sahib, where they offered prayer for the high spirit of Khalsa Panth and the struggle for the safety of the Sikh body SGPC. The prayer was offered by head granthi of Akal Takht Sahib Giani Malkeet Singh.