Will provide legal aid to victim families to pursue cases in higher Court against Jagdish Tytler: Dhami
Amritsar : The executive committee (EC) of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in its meeting held here today has taken notice of the Governments’ interference in Sikh religious affairs and their organisations.
The EC meeting presided over by SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami passed the resolution against the appointment of a non-Sikh as Administrator of the Gurdwara Board of Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, Nanded, besides strongly opposed the efforts of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) of weakening the Sikh organisations by going beyond its jurisdiction.
Moreover, it has also been decided to provide legal aid to victim families for pursuing case in the higher Court, against 1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide accused Congress leader Jagdish Tytler’s anticipatory bail.
In a statement issued here today, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the governments’ unnecessary interference in Sikh affairs is a serious conspiracy, which the Sikh organisation SGPC will not tolerate at any cost. He said that the Sikh Gurdhams (shrines) have their own Maryada (conduct) and tradition, according to which, the Sikh organisations conduct the Sewa (service). He alleged that the Governments are making arbitrary decisions by interfering with the rights of Sikhs.
He said that recently the sentiments of Sikhs have been hurt by appointing a non-Sikh as an Administrator of Gurdwara Board of Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, Nanded. He said it can never be accepted that the Administrator of a Board of holy Takht Sahib is a non-Sikh. He said that the interference of the government is being made with the intention of weakening the Sikh organisations through government institutions under its authority.
It is noteworthy here that Abhijit Rajendra Raut, present Collector of District Nanded, a non-Sikh officer was appointed as Administrator of Gurdwara Board of Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur AbchalNagar Sahib, Nanded, from August 1, 2023. This appointment is made by the Government of Maharashtra. He was appointed as per Nanded Sikh Gurudwara Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Act, 1956.
The SGPC President said that the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) is also speaking the language of government instead of representing the minorities. He said in the recent past, NCM chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura mischievously used some people and tried to achieve the interests of his party (Bharatiya Janata Party).
The SGPC President said that instead of doing politics, Iqbal Singh Lalpura should focus on matters related to minorities. Questioning the silence of NCM Chairman, he said that why Lalpura did not speak on the issues related to minorities from Jammu Kashmir, Manipur, Haryana and now the case of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib. He said that government departments and government representatives should stay away from internal issues of Sikh organisations and recognize their responsibility.
Regarding the other decisions taken by the EC, Dhami said that the victim families will be provide legal aid by the SGPC to prosecute Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, the accused of 1984 Sikh Genocide cases, in the higher Court. He said that along with legal aid to challenge the anticipatory bail in the Pulbangash Gurdwara Sahib murder case of three Sikhs, the main witness Bibi Lakhwinder Kaur will also be given necessary financial aid.
He also said that the SGPC’s EC has also approved to provide legal aid in the Supreme Court for the ongoing case against Dera Sirsa head Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
