Chandigarh, May 29
Both the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) are up in arms against the reported move of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre to postpone the gurdwara elections scheduled to be held on July 11.
"Though there is no official confirmation about the postponement being ordered by the Union Home Ministry in response to a demand made by the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, yesterday, we apprehend that they will look for excuses to defer the poll," said Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President of the SAD.
The SGPC was equally critical of the move saying that "the Congress wants to postpone the elections in the wake of its debacle in the Lok Sabha poll in Punjab. Apprehending another rejection by people of Punjab, the Congress is now trying to look for excuses," said Mr Alwinder Singh Pakhoke, officiating President of the SGPC.
Yesterday, when the Punjab Chief Minister met with the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, among the things he reportedly discussed with him was the holding of the SGPC elections, which have been long overdue. Certain organisations have even gone to court to demand the elections without any delay.
The Congress-Akali clash over the control of gurdwaras has been continuing for a long time. In November 2002, when the elections of the new executive were to be held, the conflict reached a boiling point before the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, intervened and the elections were held without any untoward incident. The SAD had emerged victorious in the elections, which ultimately led to unity between Mr Badal and Tohra.
"It is shocking, beyond belief and a direct interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs in a brazen attempt to snatch control of Sikh shrines from the sangat," said Mr Badal, holding that there were 90 per cent chances of the elections being postponed.
"They want to temper with the voters' lists. The idea is to include bogus voters by excluding genuine Sikh voters. We have convened an emergency meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the Dal on June 1 in Amritsar to discuss the situation," Mr Badal added.
The Akali leader said this was the first "gift of the UPA government to the Sikhs. We worked hard to create an atmosphere of trust and conciliation over the past 10 years. With just one move, the Congress wants to push us back into dangerous confrontation with the State. This move would vitiate the atmosphere of peace and communal harmony and alienate Sikhs, both from the Congress and the UPA government at the Centre."
Omission of "sehajdharis from the voters' list of the gurdwara elections" appears to be the basis on which the Congress government is seeking postponement. The previous government had given the go-ahead to a new definition of Sikh voters, excluding "sehajdharis," though the present government has recommended that "sehajdharis" should continue to vote.
