Amritsar, July 1
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has invited Haryana Sikh leaders to discuss the issue of a separate body to manage gurdwaras in Haryana tomorrow.

The invitees are the five leaders, who have been spearheading the move. They are Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ad hoc) chief Jagdish Singh Jhinda, Didar Singh Nalvi, Apaar Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and SGPC’s independent member Gurmeet Singh Talokewala.

Confirming this, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said they had been invited for discussions to resolve the issue.

“They have not been summoned but invited to discuss the resentment they have with the SGPC’s working. They would be apprised of the repercussions of having a separate Sikh body which would lead to nothing but division in the community. If they have any grudges about management of the affairs of gurdwaras elsewhere, they are invited to discuss the matter at Akal Takht,” he said. Reacting to the development, Jhinda said the visit was under consideration but maintained that since the issue had taken a “political discourse”, the Akal Takht Jathedar should have refrained from taking it up.

“With due respects to Akal Takht Jathedar, I wonder when we were never involved by him in discussion on any religious issue earlier, then why now, all of a sudden, the need was felt to call us? I submit that Jathedar should not initiate moves under the influence of the SGPC.

Inviting us appears nothing but an autocratic attitude", he said.

The demand for a separate gurdwara managing committee gained momentum in Haryana as the Assembly elections in the state are drawing closer. Jhinda had claimed that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda would announce a separate Sikh body on July 6.

Justifying CM’s decision, Jhinda said, “When Punjab and Haryana became different states, a re-organisation Act was constituted under which various departments were established for the two states. However, a separate gurdwara committee was not constituted. Now, when Haryana is a separate entity and a big section of the Sikhs wants a separate managing committee, what was the hitch? It could be formed under the re-organisation Act”, he said.

Jhinda said the SAD, too, has been adopting double standards to gain political mileage.