Amritsar, February 15 – The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami has condemned the alleged violation of Maryada (conduct) by the government nominated Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), at the historical Gurdwaras of Ambala, Sri Manji Sahib and Sri Panjokhara Sahib. 

He said that it has been brought to his notice by the Sikh Sangat of Haryana that the police, who were called to stop the farmers struggling for their demands on the Shambhu border, have been given stay in the Sarais (inns) of these Gurdwaras. He said complaints have been received from the Sangat that the police personnel have allegedly consumed alcohol, tobacco etc. inside the Sarais, which have also been recovered from the spot.

Dhami said that the apprehension of the SGPC and Sangat is being proved right and the government is violating the sanctity by influencing the nominated HSGMC and doing arbitrary things inside the Gurdwaras. He said that when the HSGMC was being forcibly formed at the behest of the government by breaking up the SGPC, then the Sikh community had protested in view of the possibility of similar arbitrary actions. He said that the sentiments of the Sikh world have been seriously hurt due to the government nominated HSGMC allowing the entry of police inside the Gurdwaras and the use of alcohol and tobacco in the Sarais by the police.

Dhami said that the Sikh community has always been struggling to make the Gurdwaras free from government interference and if the Gurdwara Committees start violating norms, who will protect the Maryada. He has appealed to Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh to take strict notice of these incidents.