Tuesday, January, 22 2013
By Jagtar Singh-
CHANDIGARH: With the national capital being virtually under siege of the Punjab government, temperature is rising in Delhi’s Sikh religio-political matrix. The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab is out to capture the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee for which polling would be held on January 27 in which the eligible Sikh voters would elect a 46-member House to manage their religio-political affairs. Apart from managing the Sikh shrines, the DSGMC runs a number of educational and health institutions. It is going to be a close fight. The stakes are much higher than just controlling this second most important Sikh body in the country after the Amritsar based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
The body is presently being dominated by the Delhi Akali Dal headed by Delhi businessman Paramjit Singh Sarna. Being in power for the last two terms, the Delhi Akali Dal is also confronted with anti-incumbency. Sarna at one time used to be close to Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra who presided over the affairs of the SGPC for more than a quarter of a century. Presently, Sarna is considered close to the Congress.
The Shiromani Akali Dal campaign is being led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Chief Minister son Sukhbir Singh Badal who also heads the party. The entire cabinet, besides senior party leaders, are camping in Delhi. Sukhbir’s brother-in-law and Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia is campaigning in Sarna’s constituency of Punjabi Bagh. The effort is to defeat Sarna at any cost who has his own strong and weak points.
Sukhbir, considered to be expert in managing elections, is trying to replicate Punjab model in Delhi. Liquor is literally flowing freely. The Delhi Akali Dal is attacking the Shiromani Akali Dal on this very issue. It may be mentioned that money and liquor play a significant role in the elections in Punjab. Not only the Akali Dal, almost every party has to resort to such tactics in the sensitive border state. A senior leader in Delhi, however, said the Sikhs in Delhi would not be influenced by such tactics adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Shiromani Akali Dal tried to revive its fortune in Delhi when it brought in Manjit Singh GK replacing old war horse Avtar Singh Hit.
CHANDIGARH: With the national capital being virtually under siege of the Punjab government, temperature is rising in Delhi’s Sikh religio-political matrix. The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab is out to capture the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee for which polling would be held on January 27 in which the eligible Sikh voters would elect a 46-member House to manage their religio-political affairs. Apart from managing the Sikh shrines, the DSGMC runs a number of educational and health institutions. It is going to be a close fight. The stakes are much higher than just controlling this second most important Sikh body in the country after the Amritsar based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
The body is presently being dominated by the Delhi Akali Dal headed by Delhi businessman Paramjit Singh Sarna. Being in power for the last two terms, the Delhi Akali Dal is also confronted with anti-incumbency. Sarna at one time used to be close to Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra who presided over the affairs of the SGPC for more than a quarter of a century. Presently, Sarna is considered close to the Congress.
The Shiromani Akali Dal campaign is being led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Chief Minister son Sukhbir Singh Badal who also heads the party. The entire cabinet, besides senior party leaders, are camping in Delhi. Sukhbir’s brother-in-law and Information and Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia is campaigning in Sarna’s constituency of Punjabi Bagh. The effort is to defeat Sarna at any cost who has his own strong and weak points.
Sukhbir, considered to be expert in managing elections, is trying to replicate Punjab model in Delhi. Liquor is literally flowing freely. The Delhi Akali Dal is attacking the Shiromani Akali Dal on this very issue. It may be mentioned that money and liquor play a significant role in the elections in Punjab. Not only the Akali Dal, almost every party has to resort to such tactics in the sensitive border state. A senior leader in Delhi, however, said the Sikhs in Delhi would not be influenced by such tactics adopted by the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Shiromani Akali Dal tried to revive its fortune in Delhi when it brought in Manjit Singh GK replacing old war horse Avtar Singh Hit.
with thanks : PUNJAB NEWS LINE : LINK : for detailed news.
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