Longowal gets third term as SGPC president
KULDEEP KAUR, DAUGHTER OF LATE AKALI STALWART GURCHARAN SINGH TOHRA, MADE MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE PANEL
AMRITSAR: Gobind Singh Longowal was unanimously re-elected Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president at the apex gurdwara body’s annual election on Wednesday afternoon.
Longowal was expected to retain the post as he enjoys the blessings of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal who controls the body that manages the affairs of historic Sikh shrines in north India. Longowal will head the SGPC — which is known as the mini-Parliament of Sikhs — for the third time in a row after being elected as its chief for the first time in November 2017.
Former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur proposed Longowal’s name for the president’s post for next one-year term. After
Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke and Daljit Singh Bhinder endorsed his name, the House gave its final consent by raising their hands amid slogans of ‘Sat Shri Akal’.
The SGPC House assembled in the presence of Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, other heads of the Sikh temporal seats and Golden Temple head granthi Giani Jagtar Singh who are ex-officio members.
During the meeting, All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) former leader Rajinder Singh Mehta was elected as senior vice-president, while Gurbaksh Singh from Nawanshahar was elected as junior vice-president. The key post of general secretary was given to Harjinder Singh Dhami, an advocate hailing from Hoshiarpur district.
Talking to reporters, Longowal said, “I am thankful to Waheguru for giving me another chance to serve this religious body. I am also thankful to SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and the party which trusted me. I will work hard for the Sikh community and will always be available for it”. The re-election of Longowal came a day after SGPC members owing allegiance to the SAD reportedly gave all the rights to Sukhbir for deciding the names of the president, office bearers and the executive body.
Sukhbir had on Tuesday evening held a closed-door meeting with the committee’s sitting office-bearers, members and party MLAs with regard to the election of the SGPC chief.
There are a total of 191 members of the SGPC general house. Of which, 170 are elected members, besides five jathedars of five Takhts, a head priest of the Golden Temple and 15 nominated ones.
NEW-LOOK EXECUTIVE PANEL
Months after returning to the SAD fold, Kuldeep Kaur Tohra, the adopted daughter of late Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who has been SGPC president for more than 25 years, was inducted into the 11-member executive committee. Wife of Harmail Singh Tohra who is face of Tohra’s legacy, Kuldeep Kaur had turned earlier rebel and joined AAP.
Similarly, Malaut-based three-time SGPC member Gurpal Singh Gora, who had left the SAD in protest against sacrilege incidents, was taken to the panel months after rejoining the party.