KAITHAL, Haryana—After having struggled to form a separate Gurdwara committee in Haryana, Sikh leaders, backed by Haryana Chief Minister, made a formal announcement to form a separate body to manage affairs of Haryana Sikhs. Making this historical announcement for Sikhs in Haryana, Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda today declared to form a separate Gurdwara panel for Haryana, named Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC).
The HSGPC would operate in parallel to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), just like the Delhi Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee. Hooda also announced that a bill would be introduced in the ensuing session of Haryana Assembly commencing from July 11 in order to ensure legal status to the new body.
Jagdish Singh Jhinda stated, “This day is being celebrated by the Sikhs in Haryana like the festival of Diwali. It’s a day of independence for us.” He added, “We will open schools, institutions, colleges, hospitals, and make sure HSGPC will emerge as a role model for others.”
The rally was attended by a large number of Sikh leaders in Haryana, including SGPC elected members who announced to give their support to a separate committee. Scores of Sikhs from Haryana attended the convention to support the issue.
Hooda stated that it was the right of Sikhs in Haryana to manage their own affairs. He promised that the Haryana Government would have no say in the matters of the Sikhs. “All maters of Sikhs in Haryana will be handled by the HSGPC without interference of the Government,” he told the attendees. He said all Sikhs in Haryana had great respect for the Akal Takht Sahib and the new committee would honour religious directives passed from the Supreme Sikh Authority. He expressed grief over the fact that Punjab Chief Minister was ignoring the sentiments of the Sikh community in Haryana.
Announcement to form the committee was rejoiced by “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal” jaikaras.
SGPC has done nothing for the Sikhs post 1984. They are milking the hard earned money from emotionally black mailing Sikhs around the world. If they just spent only 40% of their annual budget on welfare of Gursikhs in India, they Sikhs will be far far economically be better than the most promising community in Inda, the Parsees. And Akal Takh Jathedar is SHOULD HAVE SOME SHAME. HE SHOULD RESIGN OR STAND UP AGAINST THE REAL EVILS.
How can any committee with no power to write and enforce its own laws claim autonomy on behalf of a nation? It’s a bit like the board of Walmart winning the right to run private hospitals and schools in the name of self-determination for Washington. If so, how can this be anything other than another symbolic electorate that fails to address real concerns of many people?