Draft for Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Act Prepared by Hooda Government

Bhupinder Singh Hooda
Bhupinder Singh Hooda

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—To woo Sikh voters of Haryana ahead of assembly elections, the Haryana government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has prepared a 14-page draft of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Act, 2014. There are close to 50,000 registered Sikh voters in Haryana.

As per sources, the draft is yet to be given approval by Chief Minister Hooda. The issue is expected to be part of the agenda for cabinet meeting to be held on Tuesday. The announcement in this regard might be made by Hooda on or before July 6, when he is scheduled to attend the Sikh Maha samellan convened by the leaders of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (HSGPC) (ad-hoc) at Kaithal, they said.

The move for a separate Sikh body will have a bearing on assembly segments in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal,

Didar Singh Nalwi
Didar Singh Nalwi, one of the ad-hoc committee leaders

Kaithal, Sirsa, and Fatehabad districts, where Sikhs have a sizable population.

In order to take advantage from the move, Haryana cabinet ministers Randeep Singh Surjewala and Harmohinder Singh Chatha are in touch with Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalwi, the main leaders of HSGPC (ad-hoc). Jhinda confirmed being in touch with CMO officials and above mentioned ministers.

Justifying his demand of separate committee, Jhinda said, “This is the question of dignity of Sikhs in Haryana. What we have been asking for was allotted to us after reorganization of Punjab in 1966 and it was signed by Akali MPs then.”

However, Sikh leaders based in Punjab say that the demand will damage the strength of Sikhs and divide over them. They said Jhinda and Nalwi are becoming the part of the conspiracy engineered by Congress for political ends.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Dont know whether outcome wud be beneficial or detrimental. so many shortcomings of sgpc. ulterior motives are always the driving force. Draft of an international sikh body is whats needed. independent impartial accountable and religiously motivated.

  2. Isn’t this called political horse-trading? If you re-take my states’ capital city, I will take your money. If so, not much to do with establishing a separate electorate but more to do with maintaining the status quo?

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