Badal writes to PM against separate Gurdwara body for Haryana

Chandigarh, Apr 27 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal has urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to intervene and put an end to the raging controversy of the constitution of a separate committee to manage Sikh shrines in Haryana.

In a letter written to the prime minister today, Mr Badal has strongly objected to the recommendation made by National Commission for Minorities member Harcharan Singh Josh for a separate committee to manage Sikh shrines in Haryana.

''This move by member of the minority commission is mischievous and politically motivated and is aimed at dividing the Sikh community. It has caused widespread resentment and anger in the sikh community. This dangerous move of the minosity commission is also aimed clearly at depriving the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee of legitimate control of Sikh shrines in Haryana,'' Mr Badal stated in the letter.

''Strict action should be taken against Mr Harcharan Singh Josh for this irresponsible behaviour. From his earlier utterances against the Sikh community and from his recent actions, it has become clear that he is not fit to represent the Sikh community. So he should be sacked from this prestigious post without any delay,'' added Mr Badal.

Mr Badal reiterated his earlier stand that any move to set up a separate Gurdwara management committee in Haryana was fundamentally flawed not only in the religio-politcal conception but also in law, precedent and practice.

''This is a clear-cut violation of the time-honoured pact between Master Tara Singh as leader of the Sikh community and Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru as Prime Minister of India on April 8,1959,'' Mr Badal said.

Quoting Clause three of Nehru-Tara Singh pact, Mr Badal informed the Prime Minister that as per this, ''any amendments in the Gurdwara Act should only be undertaken after obtaining the approval of general commiteee (House) of the SGPC. A convention may be established that such approval may be by two third majority of SGPC''.

UNI PS RA GC1906