Congress-Akali politics heats up as Haryana gets separate Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee

CHANDIGARH: With Congress announcing a separate Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) for Haryana, it may be the end of dominance by Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in the Sikh religious affairs in other states. Sikhs in Haryana had been pushing for a separate SGPC for last ten years.

However, it remained in limbo despite Bhupinder Singh Hooda's categorical statements favouring creation of separate body. Former Primer Minister Manmohan Singh had asked the Haryana CM to stay off the Sikh affairs. SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal has vehemently opposed a separate SGPC and called it a Congress trick to divide Sikhs.

The demand manifested from the sentiment that the revenue generated from Gurdwara's in Haryana was not spent for the welfare of Sikhs in state, rather funds were diverted to Punjab. Considering the approaching assembly elections, Congress has won over the Sikh community in the state.

While addressing a big Sikh rally in Kaithal today, Hooda said it was a right of the Sikhs of Haryana to have an independent SGPC. Hooda had carefully crafted the script this time. The Jat satrap got Congress leaders-Captain Amarinder Singh and Punjab PCC President PS Bajwa, made them issue statements.