Refuses to accept Centre’s directive to take back the bill; asks Home Ministry to withdraw its letter in this regard
Chandigarh
The face-off over creation of separate Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Haryana intensified as the state refused to accept the Centre’s directive to take back the bill and asked the Home Ministry to “forthwith withdraw” its letter in this regard as well as direct Punjab not to interfere in its affairs.
In its reply to the Home Ministry, Haryana termed the letter written to it on Friday as “an affront to the federal structure and Parliamentary democracy of India” and one which “is an insult of 2.5 crore Haryanvis and their elected legislators”.
“I request your good self to forthwith withdraw the letter dated 18th July, 2014 and issue appropriate direction to Government of Punjab to not interfere in the affairs of state of Haryana within its territorial jurisdiction,” Haryana Cabinet Minister Randeep Surjewala said in a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh. “The political stand of either the Akali Dal (Badal) or any other political party/organisation should never colour the judgement of the Government of India in being able to decide the issue qua right of legislature of State of Haryana….”
He claimed that the Haryana Legislature had exercised its legislative powers under the Constitution to ensure grant of right of self-governance, self-determination and service of gurdwaras to the Sikh community of Haryana.
He cited the example of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee that manages the affairs of Sikh shrines in the national capital “with no say of Amritsar SGPC in it”.
“To negate this right of Sikh and Punjabi communities of Haryana is to question the honour of every Haryanvi. With humble regards to your good self and wisdom of your law officers, this is neither acceptable nor warranted,” he said.
The Haryana Minister also pointed out that Akali leaders from Punjab were entering many Sikh religious shrines (gurdwaras) of Haryana with armed police personnel from Punjab. He wanted to know why the Centre was silent on the issue and why it had not sought a law and order report from Governors of Haryana and Punjab.
Meanwhile, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in Punjab had a core committee meeting on Saturday and decided to hold a large congregation of the Sikh community at Amritsar on July 27 for deliberating on further action in this regard.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal petitioned the Centre on Saturday to intervene in the matter and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and apprised him of the situation.
Badal has said that he would not allow “dilution” of the SGPC and “would go to any extent” to save its sanctity. The Union Home Ministry wrote to the Haryana Chief Secretary and Secretary to State Governor on Friday stating that the legislature of Haryana had no competence to pass the Haryana Sikh Gurudwara (Management) Bill 2014 and assent granted by Governor should be withdrawn.
