AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—SGPC is all set to hold the first General House meeting of its members elected in polls of 2011. As per information provided by sources within the SGPC, Chief Secretary of SGPC Harcharan Singh will convene the first General House meeting scheduled to be held at the Teja Singh Samundari Hall on November 5. Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar Sri Varun Roojam is also expected to remain present during the meet.
The SGPC General House is comprised of 190 members that include five Takht Jathedars, 15 officer bearers and remaining 170 members elected through ballot from SGPC constituencies in Punjab, Haryana & Himachal Pradesh. The five Takht Jathedars don’t have right of voting in SGPC General House Meeting.
DC Varun Roojam has told the media that he had handed over the notification sent by the Union Home Minister’s office to the SGPC regarding first meeting of its General House. While Roojam is assisting with legal formalities, it is being speculated that he might not attend the meeting for being a non-Sikh. Notably, when the 15 Office bearers were co-opted in November-2011, the then Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal had gone on two days leave. The Deputy Commissioner of Tarn Taran SS Johal had then attended the meet.
It is pertinent to note here that the General House meet of SGPC members elected in 2011 was in limbo due to petition moved by the Sehajdhari Sikh Federation against the election as the they were deprived of voting in the election. The SGPC members elected in polls of 2011 couldn’t get recognition due to stay given by the Supreme Court of India. In March 2016, the Union Government of India had amended the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 abolishing voting right of Sikhs resulting in dismissal of petition by Supreme Court.
Sikh24 has learnt that the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Badal, who is also President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, has reached Amritsar Sahib where he is likely to hold a closed door meeting with SGPC members affiliated to the ruling party. Due to rifts within opposition, Akali Dal has a majority of members.
Current SGPC President Avtar Makkar, former SGPC President Kirpal Singh Badungar, SGPC member Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, Dirba MLA Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan, Senior Akali leader and former Cabinet Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Senior Akali leader Sucha Singh Langah and others are being considered as the front runners for the post of SGPC President.
Sikh24 has learnt that Amarbir Singh Chahal may be appointed as a General Secretary or Senior Vice-President in the Supreme Sikh body.
Sources have informed that the Chief Minister Parkash Badal (Patron of ruling SAD) and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal (President of ruling SAD) deliberated upon the possible candidates for SGPC President’s post and executive committee. It has come into light that Sukhbir Badal was in search of a candidate with sound educational qualification and clean image but the CM Parkash Badal was keen to appoint his trusted a veteran leader on the top post of SGPC. Candidates facing criminal charges are expected to have been sidelined.
Unless you get rid of these politicians who are closet Sikhs (they have turbans on their heads but are following RSS agenda) It doesn’t make any difference who are the figure heads of SGPC.