With Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda declaring that he will attend the Sikh sammelan at Kaithal on Sunday to consider the demand of Haryana’s Sikhs for a separate Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, (SGPC), and will take a decision in accordance with the “aspirations of the Sikhs of Haryana”, the stage is set for the formation of a separate body to administer Haryana’s gurdwaras, despite stiff opposition from the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also said on Saturday that a Bill to this effect will be passed in the coming Haryana Assembly session, and warned the BJP government at the Centre from interfering in the State.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also supported a separate SGPC for Haryana, describing the demand as legitimate. The party in a statement issued here stated that it will support the formation of a separate body for Haryana’s gurdwaras because it is in line with the AAP’s concept of ‘swaraj’.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh while warning the Central government to “keep off the matter” advised Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh not to be misled by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Chief Minister son Sukhbir Badal on the issue of a separate SGPC for Haryana.
‘Interference, disregard’ Reacting to reports on the separate SGPC, Capt. Amarinder Singh said this would not only amount to interfering into the constitutional and legislative right of the State but would ignore the sentiments of an overwhelming majority of lakhs of Sikhs living there.
