SGPC members unitedly criticized government interference in Gurdwara affairs in Haryana
Amritsar, March 3: The special meeting called by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of its members today, in a resolution strongly condemned the act of Haryana Government and its nominated Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) ad-hoc of taking forcible possession of managements of historical Gurdwaras. The SGPC meeting demanded from the Government of India to repeal the HSGM Act, 2014 in the Parliament by using the power it has under the Constitution of India.
For lobbying in the matter related to HSGMC, a 6-member committee has also been formed, which will contact different political parties and members of both the houses of Parliament from across India to ask them to raise their voice about the forced disintegration of the SGPC, the constitutional body of Sikhs. In the meeting, it was decided to write letters in this regard to all the MPs of India.
Another resolution was also passed against the injustice and excess of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the minorities.
The special meeting was held in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, in which Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh, Granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib Giani Balwinder Singh, Giani Baljit Singh and SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami along with a large number of SGPC members participated.
In the meeting, various speakers expressed their views and strongly opposed the Haryana government action of cutting locks of golaks (offering boxes) of Gurdwaras, taking police inside premises with uniform and shoes, pushing the Sangat out of the Sikh shrines and registering a case against them. The clearly said that all the members are united on this matter and will remain cooperative in the further action taken against HSGMC. In their address, the members said that the BJP is directly responsible for government interference in the Gurdwara affairs.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said that two important resolutions have been passed with the consensus of all members present. He said that in a resolution, the Government of India has appealed to repeal the HSGM Act, 2014 and act in Parliament to return the management of the Gurdwaras in Haryana to the SGPC, as the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925 is still intact. According to this Act 1925, elected SGPC members working in Haryana and Gurdwaras are also notified. The resolution said that as per the Supreme Court’s decision, the HSGM Act, 2014 has been recognized, but the government’s nominated HSGMC ad-hoc misused the government’s power and in an illegal manner, took forcible possession of the historical and notified Gurdwaras managed by the SGPC. In a democratic country like India, government administration and machinery were misused, which has hurt Sikh hearts. This action of the government is a direct violation of the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925. According to the Act 1925, the SGPC functions as an independent organisation, which the government does not like. That is why governments make attempts to repeatedly disintegrate this Sikh body and the HSGMC is also a part of this move. It was a conspiracy by the Congress to undermine and divide the Sikh power, and the BJP has also adopted the same line. The HSGM Act, 2014 was enacted by Haryana without the approval of the Centre Government and is totally against the Constitution of India. Only the Government of India has the right to make laws under List 1 Schedule 7 of Article 246 of the Constitution, while the Haryana Government has formed HSGM Act by wrongly using the reference of List 2 of the Schedule 7 of this article. It is totally against the constitution.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that in the second resolution passed in the meeting, the conspiracy of the government to suppress the minority communities has been criticized. It has been said in the resolution that under vote bank politics every trick is being used by the government to make India a Hindu Rashtra (nation). In this way, the BJP wants to break the Panthic (Sikh community’s) system of Gurdwara Sahibs and run them according to their own will. He said that through this resolution, the government has been strongly warned to stop interfering in the religious affairs of minorities.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that members of the 6-member panel on the issue of HSGMC include SGPC senior vice president Baldev Singh Qaimpuri, junior vice president Avtar Singh Raya, general secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, senior Akali leaders Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra and Daljit Singh Cheema. He said that this committee will start working immediately. He also said that if necessary, an international Sikh conference will also be called by the SGPC on this issue.
Absolutely wrong to forcibly take over management of Gurdwaras in Haryana through police: Giani Harpreet Singh
Speaking during special meeting of the SGPC members, Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that Haryana government’s nominated HSGMC ad-hoc forcibly taking over possession of the management of Gurdwara Sahibs through the police is a big mistake, which they should accept. He said that the Sikh community should do self-contemplation. Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 is still intact and in its decision, the Supreme Court has not interfered with it at all. He said that the issue of gurdwara management in Haryana should have been discussed with the SGPC and there was an option of approaching the court in case of no hearing. He said it is not right to take management with government force against the Guru’s Maryada (conduct). He said that Sikh institutions are the pride of the community and strengthening them is very important. He said the SGPC is an achievement and backbone of the community and other institutions are also important. The Sikh community should come forward to keep the SGPC strong, because the Panth will remain strong only with its strength.
The members who addressed in the meeting included SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, Baldev Singh Qaimpuri, Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, Jaswant Singh Pudain, Mahender Singh Hussainpur, Baba Gurpreet Singh, Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, Balwinder Singh Bains, Karnail Singh Panjoli, Sarwan Singh Kular and secretary Partap Singh.
A large number of SGPC members were present in the meeting.