M A I N   N E W S

Bhaur quits SGPC to pave way for Tohra
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 17
Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur today resigned as an executive member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) to pave the way for the election of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra as the SGPC chief.

The resignations of Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, president, SGPC, and Mr Bhaur will be accepted at an emergency meeting of the executive on July 20 at Patiala.

At the meeting M Tohra is likely to be elected executive member in place of Mr Bhaur to enable him to qualify for the post of SGPC chief.

Only an SGPC executive member can be elected its chief as per the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.

Another emergency meeting is likely to be convened at a 72-hour notice (by July 23) to elect Mr Tohra as the next President replacing Mr Badungar. This procedure is being adopted to avoid the calling of a general house meeting which can be convened only with a prior notice of 21 days.

Mr Tohra will be elected president after a gap of about four years.

Mr Badungar will be the fourth president of the SGPC to be replaced in the four years at the behest of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi were also directed to step down by the SAD chief in the past.

After his formal appointment, Mr Tohra is likely to undertake a major reshuffle in the SGPC. Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, a close confidant of Mr Tohra, who was one of the main architects of “Badal-Tohra unity” is likely to be made chief secretary of the SGPC.

It is learnt that the annual election for the office-bearers of the Sikh body is likely to be held in October so that Mr Tohra can induct his close aides into the executive.