'Big Conspiracy To Break SGPC': Akal Takht Jathedar On Separate Gurdwara Management Committee In Haryana

Supreme Court last year upheld the constitutional validity of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014, under which a separate panel was formed to manage the affairs of gurdwaras in the state.

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh along with other Sikh clergymen

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New Delhi: Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Harpreet Singh on Wednesday said a “big conspiracy” has been hatched to “break” Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex body of gurdwaras and alleged Haryana government has taken over the management of Sikh shrines in the state, news agency PTI reported.

Harpreet Singh, the jathedar of the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, accused the Centre of trying to take control of the management of gurdwaras in Haryana as gurdwara 'langars' were the biggest support of the farmers' protest against the now-repealed three farm laws.

Addressing a gathering at Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district on the occasion of Hola Mohalla festival, Singh said, "A country which makes every possible effort to keep its Parliament intact did not have shame at all while breaking the parliament of Sikhs (SGPC)."

"But our parliament (SGPC) has been broken into two parts and if Sikhs' parliament has been broken into two parts, then the Almighty will break that parliament in several parts. It will be Khalsa's curse," he added.

His statement comes in the wake of the apex shrine body opposing the separate gurdwara management committee in Haryana.

Notably, the Supreme Court last year upheld the constitutional validity of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014, under which a separate panel was formed to manage the affairs of gurdwaras in the state.

Singh said that there was no demand from the Sikhs for a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee and that a "big conspiracy" was hatched to “break” the SGPC as it is the backbone of the Sikh community.

“Haryana Sikhs have not taken over the management of gurdwaras. The management has been taken over by the government and it should be kept in mind. If we do not wake up, it will take over management of the SGPC as well," Singh said.

"Gurdwara institutions were the biggest support to the farmers' agitation. And the government knows it very well that the farmers' stir got the biggest support from 'langars' provided by gurdwaras and therefore, their gurdwaras should be controlled. Its result is the Haryana Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. There was no other reason," he added.