DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Feb 9
Today, members of the District Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) Jammu convened an emergent meeting to express strong objections to the recent amendments made by the Maharashtra Government, headed by EkNath Shindey, to the Nanded Sikh Gurudwara Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib Abchalnagar Sahib Board Act, 1956. The amendments aim to increase the number of government nominees in the religious body.
Some of the Presidents of DGP’c of Jammu as well as from the valley was also taken on board telephonically by S Balvinder Singh Vice President DGPC Jammu and they all were also of the opinion that these amendments would severely curtail the representation of Sikh bodies such as the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on the board, replacing them with government-appointed nominees. Under the new amendments, Maharashtra government has opened the way for directly nominating 12 board members, reducing SGPC’s nominees from 4 to 2 and abolishing the nomination of both Chief Khalsa Diwan and Hazuri Sachkhand Diwan. Additionally, representation for Two Sikh MPs has also been removed. Balvinder Singh Vice President DGPC said that there is great resentment not only among the Sikh sangat of Maharashtra but amongst the Sikh Community worldwide, including Sangat of J&K, against this decision of the Maharashtra Government and Sikh Community take it as direct interference of the government in the religious affairs of the Sikhs and Community wont tolerate this at any cost.
The DGPC Jammu denounced this act of the Maharashtra government as direct interference in Sikh religious matters and an attempt to seize control of Sikh religious shrines, which is unacceptable. They expressed widespread community resentment and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the newly introduced amendments to preserve communal harmony.
Furthermore, the DGPC criticized the Maharashtra government for unilaterally amending the act without consulting supreme Sikh bodies like SGPC Amritsar and Akal Takht Sahib. They urged the Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib to direct SGPC Chief S Harjinder Singh Dhami to immediately take up the matter with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and demand the withdrawal of the amendments. If a positive response is not received, they suggested adopting a peaceful agitational approach in consultation with Sikh bodies from different states to compel the withdrawal of the amendments. Some of the members of DGPC S Surjit Singh Gen Secretary, S Harjit Singh Incharge Dharam Parchar DGPC Jammu, S Tejinder Singh Member DGPC and Incharge Punjabi Language, beside some other prominent Sikh personalities and members of Sikh Progressive Front were also present are Manjit Singh Secretary SPF, S Rajinder Singh Sudan Jt Secretary SPF and S janak Singh, S T P Singh , S Harmohinder Singh. S Daljeet Singh, S Manmohan Singh.
