AMRITSAR: Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, has termed the Maharashtra government's insistence on increasing the number of members nominated by the government in the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib management board as disregard for Sikh sentiments. Advocate Dhami said that it is not logical for the government to say that only Sikh members will be taken in the board.
He questioned the Maharashtra government that the members of the Sikh institutions which are being reduced, were the members nominated by them not Sikhs?
The SGPC president said that the government's explanation is only misleading, while the truth is that the government wants to take over the Gurdwara arrangements.
He said that the governments should not interfere in Sikh affairs like this, but should leave the issues of Sikhs to the Sikhs. By hurting the sentiments of the Sikh world, a hostile atmosphere is created in the country, which is not in the interest of the country.
Advocate Dhami said that yesterday at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, a large group of Sikhs had expressed their feelings against the government's decision, which needs to be taken seriously. The Maharashtra government should mull it over and take a decision according to their opinion after holding a meeting with the representative Sikh organizations.
Advocate Dhami said that Takht Sri Hazur Sahib is one of the revered Takhts of the Sikhs, where no need is felt to violate and break the Act enacted in 1956 for its management and service. It was established by thinking from all sides. It included local Sikhs, representative Sikh organizations, Sikh members of Parliament and appropriate representatives of the government.
The SGPC president said that the Maharashtra government should refrain from making an arbitrary decision on the Sikh world.
He said that the Shiromani Committee has already written a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra regarding this, on which he should take immediate action.