SriGangaNagar, Rajasthan (June 26, 2014): Rajasthan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (RSGPC) (ad hoc) has put its weight behind the demand of Sikhs of Haryana for creation of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC). It has announced to participate in Sikh convention by HSGPC at Kaithal on July 6 which will be attended by Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
RSGPC (ad-hoc) president Hardeep Singh Dibdiba said, “We fully endorse the demand of Sikhs of Haryana for creation of a separate gurdwara management body for shrines in the state.”
He said there were around 28 historical gurdwaras in Rajasthan and RSGPC wanted to manage them like Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which was established under a special Act of Parliament in 1925.”We had taken up the issue with the previous government in Rajasthan and deliberations were at the advanced stages, but now I think Badal Dal would use its influence on BJP government at the Centre to not allow creation of another gurdwara body,” he said. They have begun a campaign across Rajasthan to create awareness among Sikhs about their own gurdwara management body, he added.
“The SGPC should not resist creation of separate gurdwara bodies as there is already Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
In Rajasthan, Sikhs had significant population to influence the poll results in Sri Ganganagar, Alwar, Kota and Jaipur parliamentary constituencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, ahead of July 6 Sikh convention, Jagdish Singh Jhinda, leader of the breakaway faction of HSGPC, ad hoc, joined hands with Didar Singh Nalwi group to press upon the state government to pass the HSGPC Bill in assembly.
There are around 72 historical gurdwaras. At present, these gurdwaras are being managed by SGPC. But after the creation of HSGPC, the management of these shrines will come under HSGPC, said Didar Singh Nalwi.
He said once the state assembly passed the HSGPC Bill, the state government would have to implement it after getting approval from the governor.
“Under Section 72 of Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, it was directed to the state government to create a university, an agricultural varsity and separate gurdwara management body. The first two had already been created in Haryana and now HSGPC would take shape,” he added.