Shiromani Panthak Akali Dal will hold convention in Karnal on Sept 1: Jhinda

Karnal, August 31

Jagdish Singh Jhinda, former president, Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) (ad hoc), and president of Haryana Shiromani Panthak Akali Dal, accused the state government of interfering in the affairs of the HSGMC and not holding the elections of the committee. He said they would hold a Sikh convention at Saheed Baba Jang Singh Gurdwara on the national highway-44 in Karnal on September 1.

Interacting with mediapersons, Jhinda said former Governor Satyapal Malik would be the chief guest at the convention.

“We have met CM Nayab Singh Saini for holding the elections by November 1, but the government is not keen to get these conducted, due to which we are going to hold a convention. The government is not willing to conduct the elections as it has formed a new 41-member committee for 18 months,” he said.

“We have also met former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and he has assured us of the elections if voted to power,” said Jhinda.

He accused the government for imposing a committee to look after the affairs of the gurdwaras in Haryana. Bhupinder Singh Laddi, youth state president of Haryana Shiromani Panthak Akali Dal, appealed to the Sikhs to come forward and join the convention. He criticised prominent Sikh leaders for allegedly bowing to the government and the BJP for protecting their own interests. He warned that if the government did not announce an election date for the HSGPC by November 1, the Sikh community would launch a decisive battle.

Jhinda and Laddi also dismissed the upcoming Sikh convention on September 8 as a government-sponsored event aimed at serving personal interests.