SAD postpones Karnal rally on assurance of PM

Chandigharh, Aug 23 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal has postponed its Karnal rally scheduled for August 30, which was to be held in protest against the proposal to set up a separate Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee for Haryana.

SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal said the rally had been postponed on the assurance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the issue of a separate Gurdwara Panel for Haryana would be settled amicably.

While the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar were scheduled to address a congregation at Karnal on August 30, another rally has been called in the city the same day by Sikh organisations of Haryana favouring a separate body in the State.

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had also urged both, the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ad-hoc) and the SGPC to exercise restraint and not hold their proposed rallies on August 30.

He said the State Government was yet to receive report of the committee headed by Haryana Agriculture Minister H S Chatha on the issue of a separate SGPC for Haryana.

''Any decision in this regard would be taken in view of the aspirations of the Sikhs of Haryana,'' he added.

UNI PS-JN PK RN1616