SGPC gears up for Haryana gurdwara poll

With the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) elections expected next year, members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have also started preparations.

The tenure of the previous HSGMC (ad- hoc) ended in May and on August 14, the government had nominated a new 41-member house of the ad-hoc HSGMC.

Baldev Singh Kaimpur, former vice- president, SGPC, said, “The Haryana Government had announced the schedule for the HSGMC poll earlier this year, too, but later the elections were postponed. The government has been claiming that the election will be held soon."

He said, "The interested candidates have been asked to submit their names. A meeting has been held in this regard and another meeting will be held in Kurukshetra after December 2 to prepare the strategy."

SGPC senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk said “At present, we are focusing on getting the votes prepared. The committee will contact the people with the report card of the HSGMC, take their feedback and field the candidates."

SGPC member from Ambala Harpal Singh, said, “The government-appointed committee members have failed to discharge their duties efficiently and there is resentment among the Sikhs. The government has ignored Sikh leaders who had sought separate gurdwara management committee for Haryana.”

“We will contest the election in all 40 wards. I am confident that sangat will elect the people who have always fought for the rights of Haryana’s Sikhs," he added.