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New Delhi: In a move to make cordial relation with the Centre, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to inaugurate Mohali International Airport. He also sought the Prime Minister’s intervention for early election of Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). |
Already facing a demand for a separate Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) from a section of Sikhs in Haryana, the management body for historical gurdwaras, could do well to listen to what the community leaders expect from them in this tiny hill state.
There are about 23,000 voters registered for SGPC elections in Himachal, but resentment simmers in some quarters over ''indifference'' of the organization to opening schools, colleges and hospitals that could benefit the community and others.
"Even some of the gurdwaras associated with Guru Gobind Singh in Himachal are not being looked after by SGPC," said Sewa Singh, a member of the local Singh Sabha. "We have sent several letters to the committee pointing out the conditions of historical Gurdwaras at Nahan, Nadaun, Bilaspur and Mandi but have got no response."
Singh also complained that the salaries of ragis and granthis have not been revised for a long period in gurdwaras managed by SGPC. "Once in a while, a functionary comes here, but besides holidaying, practically nothing is done," he stated.
Admitting that their numbers were not large enough to seek a separate SGPC for Himachal, local Sikh leaders said the demand for their own gurdwara panel had been raised from time to time, and a dissenting group had even made a representation to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal sometime ago.
Expressing dissatisfaction over SGPC's working in Himachal, Mohinder Singh said, "I'm in the fray precisely for this reason. Instead of working for the Sikh community, SGPC has become a ground for politics. It has alienated the community by not starting any professional college or good hospital in the state. It opened a public school in Una only two years back,'' he said.
Bhinder, the SAD candidate didn't agree with this. "A school has been started after spending Rs 2.5 crore. Should suitable land be made available, we plan to open a medical or engineering college. There is no demand for a separate SGPC here as the body is spending much more than the offerings received at the gurdwaras managed by them in the state. Even the salaries of granthis and ragis were better than the government scale,'' he claimed.
In numbers:
Total no of voters- 23,001
Total booths - 131
Candidates in fray - 6
List of names:
Daljeet Singh Bhinder (SAD)
Ishwar Singh Mann (Panthic Morcha),
Bhupinder Singh (SAD- Amritsar)
Hari Singh, Mohinder Singh and Mahinder Singh - Independents