Sikh delegation meets CM Saini demanding announcement of dates for HSGMC’s election
Demanding announcement of dates for the election of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) in the state, a delegation of Haryana Sikh Ekta Dal met Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini at his residence in Chandigarh. The members of the delegation claimed that CM Saini assured them that HSGMC election will take place within the next two months. He also assured that an official announcement would soon be made by the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Election Commission.
Giving details, Pritpal Singh Pannu, one of the members of the delegation, said that the CM informed them that Deputy Commissioners across the state have been appointed as nodal officers to facilitate the voter registration process for the Sikh community. The CM also appealed to the community to expedite the voter registration process. He also took a positive stance on other demands put forth by the delegation, promising swift action towards their resolution.
Pannu said the Haryana Sikh Ekta Dal delegation was led by prominent members, including Jagdeep Singh Aulakh, Gurtej Singh Khalsa, Amarjeet Singh Mohri (Ambala), Jathedar Avtar Singh Chakku, Saranjeet Singh Sauntha (Kaithal), Sukhvinder Singh Jhabbar, Amrit Singh Bugga, Lakhwinder Singh (Sirsa), advocate Gurtej Singh Sekhon (Kurukshetra), Kulwinder Singh Gill (Hisar), Mandeep Singh (Fatehabad), Sukhdeep Singh (Kurukshetra), Sarabjit Singh Batra (Yamunanagar), Sukhvinder Singh Chammo, and Tejinder Singh (Panipat).
He added that apart from the announcement of election dates, they demanded stringent laws against sacrilege and withdraw sedition and other charges against 14 Sikhs from Sirsa district, who were peacefully protesting in Ellenabad.
“We have also requested the CM to convey the sentiments of Haryana’s Sikhs to the Union Government regarding release of Sikh prisoners, who have completed their sentences,” said Pannu.
They also requested the CM to recruit Punjabi teachers in government and private schools, as well as translators and typists in various departments considering Punjabi as a second language.
“We have also demanded to allocate the vacant Rajya Sabha seat and other positions to Sikh representatives, include Sikhs from Haryana in the National Minority Commission, National SC/ST Commission, and National Backward Classes Commission,” he said, adding that they have also demanded to form a dedicated minority commission in the state, a special police task force to address hate speech on social media, issuance of clear instructions allowing Sikh students to wear articles such as the ‘kara’ and ‘kakkar’ during exams. The delegation also demanded land for community halls and centres for Sikhs, similar to provisions for other communities in each district. Besides, they raised the issue of implementing earlier commitments by the BJP government, including establishing a university in the name of Guru Gobind Singh, a chair in Kurukshetra University in honour of Guru Tegh Bahadur, and allocation of three acres of land for the Sikh community in Kurukshetra.
