Haryana, January 13:
As the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) elections approach, tensions among Sikh leaders contesting from various wards have escalated, with candidates accusing each other of financial mismanagement and violation of Sikh principles.
The elections, set for January 19, will determine representatives for 40 wards across the state. As campaigning heats up, candidates and their supporters have focused on accusing opposition groups of misusing funds, mishandling gurdwara affairs, and failing to uphold the ‘Sikh maryada.’
Baljit Singh Daduwal, President of Shiromani Akali Dal (Azad), stated, “The Sikh community in Haryana has fought long and hard to gain control over the management of gurdwaras, free from the Badals’ influence. However, a group aligned with the Badals, Haryana Sikh Panthak Dal, is contesting these elections. They have a history of misusing gurdwara funds. Individuals like Didar Singh Nalvi and Jagdish Singh Jhinda were also involved in mismanagement during their tenures. These groups are spreading misinformation against us, but I urge the Sikh community in Haryana to remain united and ensure the management rights of our gurdwaras stay within our hands.”
Baldev Singh Kaimpur, president of the Haryana Sikh Panthak Dal, responded, “Baljit Singh Daduwal is misleading voters, believing that Sikhs will not support him or his candidates. He and his group misused funds and violated Sikh traditions by forcibly taking over gurdwaras from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. While the SGPC has consistently raised the voice of Sikhs worldwide, the HSGMC has failed to uphold the true essence of Sikh values and allowed governmental interference in gurdwara management.”
Similarly, Didar Singh Nalvi, President of Sikh Samaj Sanstha, remarked, “The public response has been overwhelmingly positive. The government-appointed committee has failed to manage the gurdwaras and their assets effectively, including taking control of all properties. We have shown how funds were misused, and if given the opportunity, we will conduct an audit and ensure gurdwaras are managed as per the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Act and Sikh maryada.”
Jagdish Singh Jhinda, former HSGMC (ad hoc) chief and leader of the Panthak Dal Jhinda Group, added, “We have fought for a separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, but the government-nominated body has not met the expectations of the Sikh community. We will not support Daduwal, and we appeal to the BJP and government to avoid interfering in gurdwara elections.”
The candidates’ heated exchanges reflect the intense political competition ahead of the crucial elections for the HSGMC, which play a vital role in the management of Sikh religious institutions in Haryana.
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