Badal vs. Haryana Sikhs
CHANDIGARH, PUNJAB - The issue of control over gurdwaras in Haryana shows every sign of escalating into violent confrontations between Amritsar-based Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and its newly-formed Haryana counterpart. On Wednesday, Kurushetra became the battleground when supporters of both clashed over the control of the historical Chatthi Paatshahi Gurdwara. Observers fear the situation could get much worse.
Trouble has been brewing in Haryana ever since the HSGPC started making a move to take over control of Chatthi Paatshahi gurdwara and the rest of the 70 gurdwaras in Haryana. This follows the new act passed by the Haryana government to separate the HSGPC from the original SGPC. Sensing trouble, the latter has sent more armed task force to all gurdwraras to resist any move by the Haryana side unit to enter the shrines.
Golden Temple in Amritsar. Reuters
Speaking to Firstpost, Jagdish Singh Jhinda, president of Haryana SGPC, charged the SGPC of unleashing violence on a peaceful gathering of the Sikhs. "We were holding our meeting in Kurukshetra in a peaceful manner when our meeting was disrupted by members of the SGPC. Stones were pelted on us when we tried to resist their move. More than 50 persons from the Sangat got injured while around 150 of our vehicles were badly damaged. We condemn the SGPC move in the strongest possible words and appeal to everyone to maintain peace and order," he said, adding, the HSGPC will not allow the forcible occupation of the Haryana gurdwaras. "We have asked the task force of SGPC, Punjab, to go back since gurdwaras in Haryana are now under our control."
Jhinda said they have appealed to the Haryana government to take over control of the gurdwaras in Haryana and hand them over to them, but the government has not taken any action so far. On 2 August a meeting of representatives of the SGPC, including their president Avtar Singh Makkar, Delhi SGPC president Paramjit Singh Sarna and Joga Singh of Haryana had met to resolve the vexed issue. It had been decided at the meeting to constitute a five-member committee of intellectuals to discuss and find a solution. Both Jagdish Singh Jhinda, president of the Haryana SGPC and vice president, Didar Singh Nalvi had declined to attend the meeting of the two warring groups and instead had sent Joga Singh as their representative.
Immediately after the meeting SGPC, Makkar announced that he had been authorized to form the 5-member committee. However, both Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalvi, besides Joga Singh denied that Makkar had been authorised to form the committee. "I was not present in that meeting. And anyway I would have never authorized Makkar to from the committee. If such a committee is formed then it would be by the HSGPC and certainly not by the SGPC," he said.
Jhinda said so far the Sikhs of Haryana have already taken over control of two gurdwaras of Guhla Cheeka in Kaithal district and the main Gurdwara in Yamunanagar. "Soon we will take control of the rest of our gurdwaras in the state. SGPC people have no right to remain in Haryana now," he said.
The tussle between the Sikh bodies is also over the huge 'chadavas' (offerings worth Rs 200 crore in Haryana) and the properties of the gurdwaras in the state. However, there is a political angle the whole issue too. It’s also a tussle between the Congress government in Haryana and the Akali government in Punjab. With state assembly election due in two months time, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is eying the 15-lakh strong Sikh vote in Haryana. The timing of the separation of the SGPC and the HSGPC, makes it very clear how the Congress, facing anti-incumbency in the state after two consecutive terms, is desperately looking forward to issues to gain popular support.
It is a sell-known fact that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Badal will lose face if the SGPC row is not resolved in favour of Punjab. Separation of the Haryana SGPC means loss of both vote and support and huge cash from Haryana gurdwaras for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). It is also an issue of prestige, the separation move also means losing the Sikh votes in Haryana by SAD which was preparing to contest the forthcoming Haryana Vidhan Sabha poll in support of Om Prakash Chautala’s party, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Since SGPC is controlled by the SAD, an even bigger loss for it is in the form of cash flow from Haryana gurdwaras.
Related: Pro-Badal Jathedars Issue Edict Against Haryana Sikh Leaders
