Chief Khalsa Diwan gears up for February 17 elections
INTERVENTION Polls, scheduled for December 2 last year, were stayed by a court
AMRITSAR:As the day of polling for the elections of socio-religious Sikh body Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) draws closer, campaign by both contesting groups have intensified for the polls.
The elections, which are held after every five years, to elect president, resident president, two vice presidents and two secretaries have been scheduled for February 17.
Earlier, the polls were scheduled for December 2 last year, but could not be conducted after a local court ordered stay on it over the issue of bogus votes. The complaint was made by its member Harjit Singh Sachdeva, who is associated with group of Sarabjit Singh, candidate for the post of president from one of two contesting groups.
The court had vacated the stay after the CKD authorities submitted an amended list. Following which the executive body of the CKD that runs over 50 educational institutes apart from orphanages, old age homes, hospitals and public welfare centres, resolved to conduct the polls on February 17.
After excluding bogus voters, the list of total number of eligible voters came down to 398 from 425.
Sarabjit’s rival candidate is Nirmal Singh, whose group is backed by veteran Sikh leader and former secretary Bhag Singh Ankhi. Both the groups have been leaving no stone unturned to woo the members of the 116-year-old Sikh body. They are conducting meeting with the members in different cities of Punjab and outside to garner their support.
Disclosing its agenda on Thursday, Nirmal Singh’s group stated that it promises to revive the old glory and dignity of Chief Khalsa Diwan, to streamline transparent administration, to restore original form of its constitution and to allow local committees to use their powers economically for the progress of the schools. Besides, Nirmal Singh also assured to ensure respectful status to women employees, apart from promoting Punjabi.
On the other hand, Sarabjit Singh’s group, which is backed by former SGPC member and chief of ‘Akal Purakh Ki Fauj’ organization, said, “If we win in the elections, we will make sincere efforts to uplift standard and infrastructure of the institutions, provide quality education, especially to the rural youth, and make sizeable contribution for the intellectual progress of the Sikh community”.