CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal today sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “urgent and immediate personal intervention” to stop the Maharashtra govt from interfering in the highly emotive religious affairs of the Sikhs.
Badal dispatched a communication to the Prime Minister this afternoon highlighting the “ provocative and brazen interference by Maharashtra govt in the Takhat Sachkhand Shri Huzoor Sahib, Nanded, Abchal Nagar, Sahib (Maharashtra) through an amendment to the Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Huzoor Abchal Nagar Sahib Act 1956 The amendment was piloted by the present Shiv Sena govt in Maharashtra headed by Sh Ek Nath Shinde and passed by the state Legislative Assembly on February 4 instant. “
In his letter, Mr Badal pointed out that “as per the new Amendment ( 2024) to the Act, the number of Government nominees has been increased from seven (7) to 12 ( twelve). The strength of the SGPC nominated members has been reduced by 50 % - that is, from the present four (4) to just two (2). Similarly, the number of representatives of the Chief Khalsa Diwan and the Huzoori Khalsa Diwan have been totally removed from the Board. "
With This , he said, these two historic and representatives bodies of the Sikhs would have no representation in one of the highest shrines of their religion.
Mr Badal said that this has caused avoidable pain and alienation among the devout and patriotic Sikh masses who have always been in the forefront of securing and defending the independence as well as the unity and the integrity of the country.
“We take deep pride in our patriotic fervor and expect it to be acknowledged and respected by the people and the governments in the country."
The SAD chief pointed out that onr of the key commitments of the Govt of India to the Sikhs after independence was that nothing will be done with regard to the management of Sikh shrines or other religious affairs of the Sikhs without the prior approval of the two thirds majority of the general House of the SGPC.
He also pointed out that The Sikh masses had hoped that with the change in the Congress dominated Central and state governments, the patriotic community will get justice and government interference in their religious affairs would stop.
“This hope remains to be fulfilled. “ he concluded , seeking PM’s direct intervention.