Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
India

Haryana assembly passes bill for separate SGPC

Darpan News Desk IANS, 11 Jul, 2014 01:07 PM
    Amid stiff opposition from the opposition benches, a bill for creating a separate body for managing Sikh gurdwaras in Haryana was passed by the state assembly Friday.
     
    The Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Bill, 2014, was introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala Friday afternoon on the opening day of the state assembly's monsoon session. It was passed after some discussion in the house.
     
    The opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposed the introduction of the bill. Legislators of both parties walked out of the house over this issue.
     
    In a related development, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the mini-parliament of Sikh religious affairs, which controls gurdwaras across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, Friday said that it proposed to set up a sub-committee to manage affairs of gurdwaras and Sikh affairs in Haryana. Till now, these were controlled by the Amritsar-based SGPC.
     
    SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar cautioned Haryana's Sikhs from falling prey to the Congress conspiracy to divide the community.
     
    The highest temporal seat of Sikh religion, the Akal Takht, had earlier opposed the move by the Haryana government to allow a separate committee to manage gurdwaras in the state.
     
    Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda had Sunday announced the setting up of a separate Sikh committee for Haryana gurdwaras. He had said that the necessary legislation for this would be brought in the monsoon session of the assembly.
     
    A committee constituted by the Haryana government on the issue had submitted its report in favour of separate Sikh body to manage gurdwaras in the state. The committee, headed by state Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha, who is himself a Sikh from Haryana, recommended the setting up of a separate body to manage Sikh shrines in Haryana.
     
    There are 72 gurdwaras in Haryana under the SGPC and they contribute over Rs.30 crore (Rs.300 million) to the SGPC kitty. The SGPC controls majority of the gurdwaras in Punjab, including the holiest of all Sikh shrines 'Harmandar Sahib' (popularly known as Golden Temple) in Amritsar.
     
     

    MORE India ARTICLES

    PMO changes Twitter handle, BJP terms it 'unethical, ungraceful'

    PMO changes Twitter handle, BJP terms it 'unethical, ungraceful'
    The Prime Minister's Office Tuesday changed the Twitter handle of the PMO - two days before BJP leader Narendra Modi takes oath as the next prime minister, provoking the BJP to term it an "ungraceful and unethical" move by the outgoing establishment.

    PMO changes Twitter handle, BJP terms it 'unethical, ungraceful'

    Narendra Modi to take oath as India's 14th PM Monday

    Narendra Modi to take oath as India's 14th PM Monday
    President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday formally appointed Narendra Modi as the next prime minister of India after the latter met him, along with senior leaders of his party and the National Democratic Alliance, and staked claim to forming a government.

    Narendra Modi to take oath as India's 14th PM Monday

    US hopes partnership with India will grow under Modi

    US hopes partnership with India will grow under Modi
    Calling India a "very important strategic partner", the US hopes that its "enduring partnership" with India will only grow under the new government led by Narendra Modi despite the flap over his visa.

    US hopes partnership with India will grow under Modi

    Modi elected BJP parliamentary party leader

    Modi elected BJP parliamentary party leader
    Narendra Modi was Tuesday elected BJP parliamentary party leader, paving the way for the Gujarat chief minister to become India's prime minister.

    Modi elected BJP parliamentary party leader

    AAP wants to form Delhi government, asks LG not to dissolve house

    AAP wants to form Delhi government, asks LG not to dissolve house
    The AAP Tuesday told Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung that it wants to form the government in Delhi, and asked him not to dissolve the legislative assembly for a week.

    AAP wants to form Delhi government, asks LG not to dissolve house

    Watch: Narendra Modi turns emotional breaks down in Central Hall of Parliament

    Watch: Narendra Modi turns emotional breaks down in Central Hall of Parliament
    An emotional Narendra Modi broke down while delivering his first speech after being formally appointed the leader of the BJP Parliamentary group committee

    Watch: Narendra Modi turns emotional breaks down in Central Hall of Parliament