Ousted HSGMC chief Didar Nalvi forms new Sikh outfit
Says new organisation to contest gurdwara poll but will stay nonpolitical; SC hearing on separate state gudwara body on Aug 22
KURUKSHETRA: The faction-ridden Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC, ad-hoc) on Monday received a major setback when its ousted president Didar Singh Nalvi formed a separate Sikh body in the state.
Nalvi claimed that of a total of 41 HSGMC members, five people Mohanjeet Singh, Ajmer Singh Saini, Baldev Singh Balli and HS Rathore attended the Monday meeting held at Kamboj Dharamshala in Kurukshetra.
He said that organisation will also contest gurdwara elections in the state.
The move has come as a jolt to efforts of HSGMC (ad-hoc) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda as the Supreme Court is likely to deliver its verdict in the case on the demand of the formation of a separate Sikh gurdwara body in Haryana. August 22 is the next date of hearing in the case.
HOW WAS HE OUSTED
The controversy over the control of HSGMC sparked on April 9 when Nalvi claimed that 28 of the 41 members of the executive committee appointed him the president unanimously in a meeting at Gurdwara Neem Sahib in Kaithal. While 17 members were reportedly present in the meeting, 11 others extended support over phone. Later, Jhinda called another meeting and got support of 36 members and again become president.
It was decided during the Monday meeting that the new Sikh organisation will be nonpolitical, he said, adding that a sub-committee has been formed to finalise its name, members and president.
Nalvi has decided to form the organisation as HSGMC (ad-hoc) president Jagdish Jhinda had formed a political party Janta Akali Dal last month and announced that JAD will contest gurdwara elections in Haryana.
Jhinda had also announced to contest both assembly and general election in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and the Mumbai region of Maharastra besides Haryana.
‘WILL NOT ENTER THE MAINSTREAM POLITICS’
Asked whether the new organisation has been formed to counter Jhinda’s party, he said, “We will never enter the mainstream politics but will fight for the rights of Sikhs. We will contest the gurdwara committee elections in Haryana after the Supreme Court delivers its judgment on the formation of HSGMC.”
On the other hand, Jhinda accused Nalvi of playing into the hands of former Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal. “Nalvi is working for Badal and is befooling the Sikhs of Haryana.”
“Earlier, he had declared himself president of HSGMC (ad-hoc) and now decided to form an organisation. He has no future. He is weakening the claims of Haryana Sikhs for a separate Sikh body, for which the Supreme Court is likely to announce the judgment,” he said
In 2014, the outgoing Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government in the state had constituted the 41-member ad hoc HSGMC to manage, supervise and take over the assets of gurdwaras in the state, giving a boost to the demand of a separate Sikh body in Haryana.
The committee constituted under the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Act, 2014, was passed by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalwi, the two leaders at the forefront of the HSGMC campaign, were named on top on the list of members.
We will fight for the rights of Sikhs. We will contest the gurdwara committee poll in Haryana after the Supreme Court delivers its judgment. DIDAR S NALVI, ex-HSGMC leader Nalvi is working for Badal and is befooling the Sikhs of Haryana. He is weakening the claims of state Sikhs for a separate Sikh body. JAGDISH JHINDA, HSGMC chief