Akali Dal opposes separate gurudwara committee in Haryana

Amritsar, Aug. 11 (ANI): The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) would take all possible measures under the Constitution to prevent the setting up of a separate SGPC in Haryana, said Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday.

Sukhbir, who was sworn-in as Deputy Chief Minister on Monday after winning from the Jalalabad Assembly seat paid obeisance at the Golden Temple on Tuesday.

He was accompanied by local MLAs and senior the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) members.

Commenting on the move to set up a separate SGPC that no party would be allowed to interfere in the Sikh community.

"We would hold awareness campaign to make a general conesus amongst the Sikhs that it is a direct interference in the affairs of the community and a ploy to divide Sikhs," said Sukhbir.

Last Thursday, proceedings in Parliament were disrupted following a Bharatiya Janata Party and Akali Dal protest against the announcement made by the Haryana Governmnet about the formation of a separate Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) in Haryana.

Last year seven Haryana members of the 170-seat Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) levelled allegations of neglect of the state's historical gurudwaras.

There are seven major historical gurudwaras in Haryana under direct control of the SGPC, while 18 other gurudwaras are under its indirect control. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)