SGPC alleges Cong politicising Sikh body issue

SGPC alleges Cong politicising Sikh body issue
Meetu Jain / CNN-IBN


New Delhi: Sikh politics threatens to resurface and cause some social, religious and political turbulence in the days to come.


In what's being considered a masterstroke by the Congress, the Haryana government is considering setting up an independent Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for Haryana.


The new body is to be formed on the lines of the Delhi committee and would break the monopoly of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).


It will help the Congress party get a toehold in Akali politics ahead of the Assembly polls of Haryana.


The issue rocked Parliament on Thursday but the Haryana chief minister was quick to deny any motives.


Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, "I am willing to go for a referendum. I am ready to abide by whatever the Sikhs of Haryana decide."


The Haryana Sikh is expected to vote for an independent body as it means not just political clout but enough money power as well. But it's a move that is not going to go down well with the rest of the political class.


MP of Akali Dal, Harsimrat Kaur said, "In the last four years, Haryana saw no need to set up its own SGPC. Now as elections approach, this is a move to interfere into the religious affairs of a religious community for a handful of votes and political gains."


Rajya Sabha Deputy Chief Whip from BJP, SS Ahluwalia said, "The leader of Parliament, who incidentally is a Sikh and the Prime Minister of the country, should not do this."


The Hooda government has for the moment given an assurance in the Assembly that the recommendations of the Chaddha Committee set up for the purpose will be examined.


It is not for the first time that the Congress has tried to politicise Sikh sentiments. Now, ahead of the assembly elections the Congress is once again hoping to use Sikhs as a vote bank and at the same time, break the monopoly of the Akali Dal and the SGPC.

with thanks : source : http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sgpc-alleges-cong-politicising-sikh-body-issue/98727-37.html

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