Advocate Dhami gets 107 votes while Bibi Jagir Kaur gets 33 votes
Raghujit Singh Virk elected Senior Vice President, Baldev Singh Kalyan Junior Vice President and Sher Singh Mandwala as General Secretary
Amritsar, October 28: Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami was elected as President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for the fourth consecutive time today, after the annual election of SGPC office bearers. Harjinder Singh Dhami won by securing 107 votes out of the total 142 votes polled during the SGPC general house meeting held in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at Teja Singh Samundri Hall at the SGPC headquarters. Bibi Jagir Kaur, who contested for the president post, got 33 votes, while 2 were rejected. During the session, the head granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Sultan Singh, and 142 members of the SGPC were present.
Raghujit Singh Virk was elected Senior Vice President, Baldev Singh Kalyan as Junior Vice President, and Sher Singh Mandwala as General Secretary during the general meeting. The 11-member SGPC executive members include Bibi Harjinder Kaur, Amrik Singh Vachhoa, Surjit Singh Tughalwal, Paramjit Singh Khalsa, Surjit Singh Garhi, Baldev Singh Kayampur, Daljit Singh Bhinder, Sukhharpreet Singh Rode, Ravinder Singh Khalsa, Jaswant Singh Purain and Paramjit Singh Raipur. Along with this, SGPC member Kulwant Singh Manna was appointed as Honorary Chief Secretary.
Addressing the media after being elected as the President, Harjinder Singh Dhami said that this great service to the Sikh community has been received with the grace of the Guru, which he will try to fulfill under the Guru’s fear, humility, and the Panthic sentiments. He said that in this year’s election, along with the AAP government of Punjab, the government of India, BJP, RSS, and Congress put a lot of pressure, but the SGPC members firmly stood with their mother party Shiromani Akali Dal and set an example. He said that the results of this election are a clear answer to the anti-Panthic forces. He thanked the SGPC members, and the entire leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal and said that their responsibility has now increased, to which they will work with dedication.
On this occasion, the SGPC President clarified the plans and priorities of SGPC and said that religious preaching will be mainly concentrated, and special attention will be given to health, education, and human welfare activities. He said that the teachings of the Gurus are very important for human life which will be propagated extensively. Firmness in Sikh principles and living accordingly is a must for every Sikh, and its preaching will be taken up on the agenda. Hoping for cooperation from all the Sikh Sampradas and organizations, he said that the work of preaching religion should be a joint effort of the entire community, for which they would all approach.
Advocate Dhami and other elected office-bearers thank the Guru
After being elected as SGPC President, Harjinder Singh Dhami and other office-bearers paid obeisance at Sri Harmandar Sahib and thanked Guru, where they were given Siropao (robe of honour) by head granthi Giani Raghbir Singh. Harjinder Singh Dhami and the office-bearers also went to Akal Takht Sahib to thank the Guru. After this, SGPC President Advocate Dhami assumed his duties at the office and expressed his commitment to take all Panthic parties along.
Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar proposes name of Advocate Dhami
During the general house meeting of SGPC, the name Harjinder Singh Dhami was proposed by former President Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, seconded by Bhai Gobind Singh Longowal and Alvinderpal Singh Pakhoke. Bibi Jagir Kaur’s name was proposed by Amrik Singh Shahpur, seconded by Mithu Singh Kahneke and Satwinder Singh Tohra. Similarly, Senior Vice President Raghujit Singh’s name was proposed by Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, seconded by Ravinder Singh Khalsa and Phumman Singh. Junior Vice President Baldev Singh Kalyan’s name was proposed by Baljit Singh Jalalusman, seconded by Gurmeet Singh Booh and Jarnail Singh Dogranwala. General Secretary Sher Singh Mandwala’s name was proposed by Gurinderpal Singh Gora, seconded by Raghbir Singh Saharanmajra and Gurbakhsh Singh Khalsa. Bhai Amarjit Singh Chawla proposed to form an 11-member executive committee, seconded by Surjit Singh Bhittewad and Charan Singh Alamgir. The proceedings of the general meeting were conducted by SGPC Secretary Partap Singh.