Decision taken in emergency executive meeting under leadership of Harjinder Singh Dhami
Action of Haryana government’s nominated HSGMC is no less than committed by mahants during British rule: Harjinder Singh Dhami
Chandigarh, February 24:
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has called a special meeting of all the SGPC members at Sri Amritsar on March 3, 2023, regarding issue of the occupation of Gurdwaras by Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) ad-hoc. This decision was taken in a SGPC executive meeting presided over by SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami to discuss specific agenda of HSGMC ad-hoc on a 72 hours notice. During the meeting held in Chandigarh today at Kalgidhar Niwas, the well-planned conspiracy of Haryana government to take over management of historical gurdwaras of Haryana was strongly condemned and termed as a big attack on the Sikh community by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, speaking to the media, said that under the cover of the Supreme Court’s decision, the Haryana government has made a mischievous attempt to take over the Sikh shrines in Haryana. He said that the management of Gurdwaras was provided to HSGMC ad-hoc with force, gross violation of Maryada (code of conduct) was also violated besides the police personnel entering the Gurdwara premises with shoes in Kurukshetra. He said that this move of the Haryana government and HSGMC ad-hoc has hurt Sikh sentiments.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the Haryana government is working against the orders of the Supreme Court. “It is clear in the Supreme court’s decision that the HSGMC should be made functional after election and the members to be elected should be Amritdhari (initiated), but a large number of members of HSGMC ad-hoc nominated by the government are not Amritdhari. Apart from this, the process of nominating the committee through notification is also unconstitutional, as it has paved the way for government control on the management of the Gurdwaras by issuing an ordinance through the Governor on 24 October 2022”, said SGPC President Dhami.
The SGPC had set up a 5-member panel to look into the actions of HSGMC ad-hoc at Gurdwara Patshahi Chhevin, Kurukshetra, the report of which has been discussed in today’s executive committee. He said that the panel’s report has made it clear that the HSGMC ad-hoc has committed forcible actions in the Gurdwara Sahib under the patronage of the Haryana government. The armed men of the government nominated HSGMC ad-hoc president Mahant Karamjit Singh and member Bhai Baljit Singh Daduwal, entered the Gurdwara Sahib with force and without respecting the Guru’s Maryada (code of conduct), they broke locks of the golak (offering box) and placed their locks. He said the police administration also violated the Maryada and hurt the sentiments of Sangat.
Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the actions of HSGMC ad-hoc are no less than the excesses committed by mahants at the time of the British government. He said that once the Congress class used to do such anti-Sikh activities, but today even the BJP is also walking on the same path. “Like Congress, BJP will also have to bear the brunt of these actions”, said SGPC President.
SGPC President said that today’s executive committee has decided to call a general meeting of all members to draw future strategy with regards to HSGMC ad-hoc, strongly criticizing violation of the Maryada of source of Sikh power Gurdwara Sahibs. The next outline will be drawn as per the suggestions made during the meeting on March 3, 2023.
Apart from Harjinder Singh Dhami, those present in the meeting included SGPC senior vice president Baldev Singh Qaimpuri, junior vice president Avtar Singh Raya, general secretary Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal, executive members Jarnail Singh Kartarpur, Bawa Singh Gumanpura, Mohan Singh Bangi, Gurnam Singh Jassal, Paramjit Singh Khalsa, Surjit Singh Tugalwal, Bibi Gurinder Kaur Bholuwala, Baba Gurpreet Singh, Malkit Singh Changal, SGPC secretary Partap Singh, additional secretary Sukhminder Singh, Simarjit Singh, and assistant secretary Lakhbir Singh, and Shahbaz Singh.