After prime minister Manmohan Singh's assurance that Haryana would not go ahead with a separate SGPC, the Akali Dal has cancelled its rally proposed to be held in Karnal on August 30.
Punjab CM warns of Kashmir-like situation
CHANDIGARH: After prime minister Manmohan Singh's assurance that Haryana would not go ahead with a separate SGPC, the Akali Dal has cancelled its rally proposed to be held in Karnal on August 30.
Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had called on the prime minister on Friday. It is believed that the PM later spoke to the Haryana chief minister asking him to exercise restraint on the sensitive matter. Badal warned of a Kashmir-like situation erupting in Punjab in case Haryana did not suspend its proposal to form a parallel SGPC.
Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had, in the meanwhile, appealed to the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (ad hoc) and the SGPC to exercise restraint and not hold their proposed rallies on August 30. Hooda urged both factions not to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state. He said the state government was yet to receive report of the committee headed by agriculture minister, H S Chatha on the issue of a separate SGPC for Haryana. Any decision in this regard will take into account aspirations of Haryana Sikhs, he said.
Haryana PCC president Phul Chand Mulana said the Congress government might adopt a legislation for the purpose at the next session of the Vidhan Sabha. The move is targeted at divesting the SGPC of its control over the Sikh shrines in Haryana and thereby give an autonomy of sorts to the Sikhs in Haryana.
Haryana has 15 members in the SGPC, one of whom is Raghuvir Singh Virk, a senior vice-president. The Haryana Congress feels that Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, through his indirect control on the SGPC has been influencing the Sikhs in Haryana as well. He has already opposed Haryana’s move to constitute a separate gurdwara management committee and has sought the PM's intervention in the matter.
Badal said the formation of a separate Sikh body in Haryana would be gross violation of all-India Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925. He said the Congress was meddling in Sikh affairs and and creating a wedge between the Sikhs in two states.
b_ajay@dnaindia.net
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