Hold HSGMC poll before Haryana’s or face protest: Sikh body

Nitish Sharma

Ambala, July 7

Accusing the Haryana Government of adopting a discriminatory attitude towards the Sikh electorate by not conducting the elections of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), Sikh leaders have threatened to open a front against the BJP government in in the state.

The community leaders under the banner of Sikh Samaj Sanstha have requested the government to get the HSGMC elections conducted before the state and the municipal polls else it will be responsible for the consequences.

Sanstha president Didar Singh Nalvi said, “The 18-month tenure of the nominated committee of the HSGMC expired on May 31, but the government is yet to announce the election date. We have come to know that the government is planning to conduct the municipal polls and then it will get busy with the Assembly elections, which is tantamount to denial of electoral rights to the Sikhs of Haryana to manage their holy shrines. Any further delay in the HSGMC polls is not acceptable.”

“If the gurdwara elections are scheduled after the Assembly elections because of the dilly-dallying tactics of the government, the Sanstha will open a front against the BJP government in the state. We demand that the elections should be conducted by August 14,” he added.

In a letter to the CM, the Sanstha has demanded that the nominated committee must not be given further extension and the rules be framed for the gurdwara elections. Nalvi said, “We have repeatedly sought time from the government to discuss the issue but it is not giving time to the Sikh delegation. If our grievance is not heard, the Sanstha will call a meeting of the community, form a 40-member panel and take charge from the nominated committee.”