Manjit Singh GK (54) is new president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).
The new-elected members of the committee on Tuesday elected him
president unanimously. GK, son of late jathedar Santokh Singh, had led
the the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) to victory in the committee's elections, defeating Paramjit Singh Sarna and his SAD (Delhi).
GK's election was held in the presence of the Akal Takht jathedar,
Giani Gurbachan Singh, who is ex-officio member of the committee without
the voting right. The jathedars of Keshgarh Sahib, Patna Sahib and
Hazoor Sahib are also ex-officio members of the committee.'
Manjinder Singh Sirsa (39), youth president of SAD (B) in Delhi, was
obvious choice for the committee's general secretary, and he got his
reward for defeating Sarna, outgoing president of the committee, in the
election held on January 27. Sirsa is considered close to the Badals,
whose family rules Punjab.
Party patron Parkash Singh Badal, who is also chief minister of
Punjab; and party president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is deputy CM of
Punjab, cleared the names of the committee president, general secretary
and other office-bearers. As per the provisions of the DSGMC Act of
1971, the director of gurdwara elections, GP Singh, nominated Kulmohan
Singh as house chairman, who asked for names for the post of the
committee president.
Avtar Singh Hit proposed GK's name, which was supported by Onkar
Singh Thapar first before all member gave their unanimous consent. The
SAD (B) had bagged 37 of the 46 seats in the January 27 elections,
ousting Sarna-led SAD-Delhi, which could win just eight seats (an
Independent got one). Of the eight winners from the Sarna group, only
two were present in Tuesday's meeting, where the 51-member house elected
the president and other office-bearers. Of the 51 members, 46 were
elected directly by 4.5 lakh Sikh voters in Delhi, while five were
nominated.
Hit, who was DSGMC president from 2000 to 2002 and Delhi-unit
president of the SAD (B) for many years, was in the race for the top
post but failed to garner the support of his party leaders. Once close
to Parkash Singh Badal, he was distanced from the party after GK was
given reins in 2008. Other than Hit, Sirsa and first-time member Onkar
Singh Thapar also were contenders for the top post. The SAD (B)
regained control of the DSGMC after an 11 years. It lost consecutively
in 2002 and 2007.
The post of senior vice-president went to Ravinder Singh Khurana,
while Dhanwant Singh became vice-president and Harmeet Singh Kalka
secretary of the DSGMC. A 10-member executive committee was also named.
with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK
