Haryana Sikh leaders want state to help takeover of gurdwaras

Ever since Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia gave his assent to the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras Management Bill, 2014, making it an Act, SGPC leaders and their supporters have been camping in Haryana gurdwaras to prevent the state government and Haryana Sikh leaders from taking possession of them.

SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal leaders have also challenged the Haryana government and HSGMC that in case anybody tries to forcibly take over the Sikh shrines in the state, the consequences would be devastating.

A large number of Haryana Sikh leaders and their supporters Sunday held a protest march on the streets of Ambala and submitted a memorandum in the name of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to Prabhjot Singh, ADC, Ambala.

Preparations for the march began Sunday morning, when Sikhs from across Haryana started assembling in Ambala. They marched towards the PWD rest house, initially raising raised slogans against the Haryana government for its failure to facilitate takeover of gurdwaras by the HSGMC. After some time, they changed their tune and praised the state government for passing the Bill.

“We have requested the Haryana government to throw the SGPC supporters out of our gurdwaras and help us take over the Sikh shrines. Punjab Sikh leaders have no business being here. Since all the formalities for constituting a separate body to manage Sikh shrines in Haryana have been completed, the state government should now help us get possession of the gurdwaras,” said Jagdish Singh Jhinda.