FREMONT, California, USA—Lack of cooperation by a former supporter of the Sikh Panchayat has caused the election to be a tight race this year for the control of Callifornia’s biggest Panthik Gurdwara. Elections at the Fremont Gurdwara are due in March 2016, and along with facing Badal-backed BASA, the Sikh Panchayat also has to contest against Jaswinder Singh Jandi group (a pro-Khalistan slate) who is fielding his own candidates.
Sikh Panchayat had come out victorious after defeating the Bay Area Sikh Alliance (BASA) in 2014. However, due to opposition by Jaswinder Singh Jandi this year, it will be a tight race again between the two major groups.
Bhai Jaswinder Singh Jandi is a prominent Sikh, with sizable support across the Bay Area. However, due to internal disputes with the Sikh Panchayat, he announced to field his own slate this year. It is being rumored that if the Jandi slate does not step down, it will lead to break up of votes for the Sikh Panchayat, positioning the BASA to be a better contender, and possible winner of the elections this year.
While the Sikh Panchayat has been doing seva at Gurdwara Sahib Fremont for the past 4 years, BASA members are not active in Fremont Gurdwara and many hail from San Jose instead. BASA also has ties with the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) group and some of their senior members are also notorious for having proximity with the Indian consulate. BASA President Avtar Singh Dhami was known as the right hand man of the excommunicated Gurbaksh Kala Afghana. BASA’s affiliation with anti-Panthik forces is the main reason why this group has not been able to gather support at Fremont Gurdwara, which is known as a Panthik institute.
There were talks of the possibility of Jaswinder Singh Jandi also joining hands with BASA, however, due to conflict over ‘Khalistan issue’, the latter backed out. However, if any member of the Jandi group is victorious, along with BASA members, it will be interesting to note how a staunch Khalistani will work with Badal / Indian Government affiliated committee members.
Despite stiff opposition by BASA, Sikh Panchayat has delivered majority of its promises made two years ago, including –
1) Improving Khalsa School and langar kitchen facilities
2) Auditing of Gurdwara Sahib statements every two years
3) Empowerment of Sikh women and youth in the community by fielding a Gursikh woman and amritdhari youth
It promised two years ago to also resolve the long pending property dispute over the 100 acres of land and develop a senior center. Sikh24 is not aware on the progress made on these promises.
