HSGPC announces rally on venue of SAD event in K’shetra on Aug 19
KARNAL: Two weeks before the Shiromani Akali Dal’s proposed rally in Kurukshetra on August 19, Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (HSGPC-adhoc) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda on Monday announced that he will address a parallel rally at the same venue on the same day.
Though Jhinda has not got the permission for the rally yet, he said he had applied for the same and it is up to the government to decide. However, we will hold the rally even if we are not granted permission, he added.
“SAD leaders have been opposing formation of a separate Sikh body in Haryana and crores of rupees from gurdwaras in Haryana were going to Amritsar every year. How can we allow them to spread roots in Haryana by holding rallies in our state”, Jhinda told HT.
He also accused the Akalis of injustice and discrimination with the Sikhs of Haryana. “They are not giving Haryana its share in the water. They are supporting the SGPC, which is taking money from Haryana to Punjab. They have also failed to put a check on the drug menace in the Punjab,” he added.
However, local SAD Badal leader Kanwaljit Singh Ajrana said, “Jhinda does not have any support from Sikhs in the state. He will not hold the rally but trying to mislead Sikhs.”
He said the SAD has already got the permission for the rally and SAD president Sukhbir Badal will address the rally along with several other leaders.
Kurukshetra deputy commissioner (DC) SS Phulia said permission will be granted on the ‘first come first served’ basis.
Notably, the SAD, which earlier had alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), has announced to contest the coming Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Haryana on its own.
Jhinda, who has also formed a political party, Janta Akali Dal, plans to contest both assembly and Lok Sabha polls in not only in Haryana, but also in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir and some other states.