Chandigarh/ Haryana (July 11, 2014): The Haryana state assembly today passed bill for the formation of separate Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for Haryana. The bill, titled “Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Bill 2014” was passed amidst walkout by opposition parties including INLD and BJP.
The walkout was staged by Chautalas’ party (INLD) and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in protest of formation of HSGPC.
The bill for separate Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee was presented by Haryana Cabinet Minister Randeep Surjewala at around 16:20 IST.
After the bill was tabled the BJP legislator demanded more time to study the bill. But Haryna CM asked them to come clear on the issue.
During discussion, INLD leader Chaudhary Abhey Singh Chautala said that this is a direct intervention in the religious affairs of Sikh community which cannot be tolerated at any cost.
He alleged that Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s Government has no “love and affection” for the Sikhs and only their goal is to divide the members of Sikh community to garner their support in the coming Assembly elections.
After protest INLD and BJP leaders walked out and the Haryana assembly, mainly MLAs of the Congress party, passed the bill.
As per set procedure the proposed Bill passed by the Haryana Assembly will now be sent to Haryana Governor for his assent.
As per certain media reports the Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa and Haryana Sikh leaders Jagdish Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalvi were also present in the Vidhan Sabha gallery during proceedings.
On the other hand, SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar led a protest march of Sikhs in Panchkula at Gurdwara Nadha Sahib.
Meanwhile there are reports that the SGPC has formed a “sub-committee” for Haryana.