AMRITSAR SAHIB—The Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on October 26 directing the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar to convene SGPC election on November 5 to elect the Executive body, President and other office bearers. Subsequent to the directions by Central government, the Punjab government also asked the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar and Chief Secretary of SGPC to make arrangements for the elections.
To be held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall in the Golden Temple premises, 170 elected members of SGPC house will elect a 15 member executive body which in turn will elect the President, General Secretary and other office bearers.
SGPC’s current President Avtar Makkar is likely to be replaced by Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) who has full grip over the SGPC house. However, Avtar Makkar (who headed the apex Sikh body for almost 10 years) has claimed to be in fray again for the post of President.
It is being speculated that the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal was in bid to place a SGPC member with good ‘Panthik’ credentials on the post of President to woo Sikh vote bank.
It may be recalled here that following the amendment to the ‘Sikh Gurdwara Act-1925’ by Indian Parliament, the Supreme Court of India had abolished the voting right of ‘Sehajdhari Sikhs’ and had validated the SGPC members elected in the election of 2011.
If SGPC want to represent Sikh community we have to reform it from grassroots. It has to have worldwide representation . Free of any political influence .Unless that happens they can have all the elections they want . It will not get us anywhere.