*Dhami bags 118 votes, while Balbir Singh Ghunas 17 votes
**Harbhajan Singh Masana to be senior vice-president, Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa as junior vice-president, Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta as general secretary
Amritsar : Harjinder Singh Dhami elected President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for the third consecutive term, during the General House session for the annual election of the SGPC office-bearers. Of the total polled 137 votes, Dhami bagged 118, his opponent Balbir Singh Ghunas bagged 17 and two votes were cancelled.
During the house, the head granthi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib and Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Giani Sultan Singh, additional head granthi of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Malkit Singh and 137 members of the SGPC were present.
SGPC member Harbhajan Singh Masana was elected unopposed as senior vice-president, Gurbakhsh Singh Khalsa as junior vice-president and Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta as general secretary in the house. Eleven members of the SGPC’s executive committee include Mohan Singh Bangi, Raghbir Singh Saharanmajra, Jasmer Singh Lachhru, Khushwinder Singh Bhatia, Bibi Hardeep Kaur Khokh, Indermohan Singh Lakhmirwala, Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, Bibi Malkit Kaur Kamalpur, Amarjit Singh Bhalaipur, Bibi Jaspal Kaur, and Jaswant Singh Purain.
Talking to the media after being elected as president, Dhami said that with the blessing of the Guru, he got this Sewa (service) for the third time. He thanked the entire house of SGPC members, the president of Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal, and senior leaders of the party and said that he will try to ensure that the services of the representative body of the Sikh community are done according to the community’s sentiments. He said that this time is challenging for the community, as the general elections of the SGPC are coming ahead and there are also many Panthic issues. He said that whether it is the Centre government or the Punjab government, interference is being made in the voter registration process. He raised the apprehension that the Gurdwara Election Commission giving little time for SGPC’s voter registration process, it appears to be the government’s intention to register fewer Sikh voters so that they are shown as a minority in Punjab.
Dhami said that today there is a big issue before the Sikh community of Sikh prisoners, for which appropriate steps will be taken. Responding to a question from the media, the SGPC President said that today’s election result of SGPC office-bearers shows that the entire party members are united and trust their party.
He clarified the priorities of SGPC’s future plans and work to be done and said that along with religious preaching, health and education will be progressed under new measures. Moreover, building new sarais (inns) for the Sangat arriving at Sri Darbar Sahib will also be on the agenda. He said that there are many other community-related tasks to be done, which will be worked on with the opinion of scholars and the SGPC members. He said that according to the need, administrative reforms will also be made.
After being elected as SGPC President, Harjinder Singh Dhami and other office-bearers paid obeisance at Sachkhand Sri Harimandar Sahib and thanked the Guru, where they were honoured with Siropao by the head granthi Giani Raghbir Singh. The SGPC President along with office-bearers also went to Sri Akal Takht Sahib to thank the Guru. After this, the SGPC President assumed his duties at the office and expressed his commitment to take all Panthic parties along.
Harjinder Singh Dhami’s name was proposed by the former SGPC president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar
During the SGPC general house session, the name of Harjinder Singh Dhami as candidate was proposed by former president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, seconded by Bhai Gobind Singh Longowal and further seconded by Bhai Gurcharan Singh Grewal.
In competition to Harjinder Singh Dhami, the name of Balbir Singh Ghunas was proposed by SGPC member Amrik Singh Shahpur, seconded by Baldev Singh Chungan and further seconded by Nirmail Singh Jaulan.
The name of senior vice-president was proposed by Bhai Amarjit Singh Chawla, seconded by Alwinder Singh Pakhoke, and further seconded by Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka.
The name of Bhai Gurbakhsh Singh Khalsa as junior vice-president was proposed by Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, seconded by Gurmail Singh Sangatpura, further seconded by Avtar Singh Raya.
The name of Bhai Rajinder Singh Mehta as general secretary was proposed by Surjit Singh Bhittewad, seconded by Khushwinder Singh Bhatia, and further seconded by Phumman Singh. For the 11-member executive, the proposal was made by member Paramjit Singh Khalsa, seconded by Gurbachan Singh Karmunwala and further seconded by Baldev Singh Qadian.
During the general house, the newly appointed president, Harjinder Singh Dhami read the resolutions passed by the house and member Sukhdev Singh Bhaur also shared his views. Bhaur asked to raise a strong voice against the flaws in the process of SGPC voter registration. Harjinder Singh Dhami thanked the members present and the proceedings of the general meeting were conducted by the SGPC secretary Partap Singh.
