Facility centre for voter registration for HSGMC elections started in Karnal

A facility centre has been started at Dera Kar Sewa to assist with voter registration for the upcoming Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) elections. Initiated by the Haryana Sikh Ekta Dal with the support of Baba Sukha Singh, this centre will aid in registering voters for all wards of Karnal district.

Jagtar Singh will be available at the centre daily from 10 am to 5 pm to facilitate the voter registration process. Sharing details about the initiative, representatives of the Haryana Sikh Ekta Dal, including Pritpal Singh Pannu, Jagdeep Singh Aulakh, Gurtej Singh Khalsa, and Amrit Pal Singh Bugga, said that only ‘Keshdhari Sikhs’ who had faith in the 10 Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib could register to vote. Sikhs aged 18 years or older as of January 1, 2024, could register to cast their vote in the elections.

They said a delegation of the Haryana Sikh Ekta Dal had recently met Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Gurdwara Election Commissioner, Justice (Retd) HS Bhalla, who assured it that the elections would be conducted by January. The CM also reiterated this commitment in the Haryana Assembly.

Currently, approximately three lakh voters have been registered for the Haryana Gurdwara elections, a number significantly lower than the actual Sikh population in the state. Pritpal Singh Pannu emphasised that every Sikh must register to vote as it was crucial for their identity and existence. He added that representation in a democracy directly impacted the future of the community and its upcoming generations.

Jagdeep Singh Aulakh said the facility centre was intended solely for the benefit of the Sikh community, rising above party politics and factions. He reiterated the announcement that the Haryana Sikh Ekta Dal would neither contest elections nor support any candidate but would focus on ensuring maximum voter registration and safeguarding Sikh rights.