Badal warns Prime minister not to meddle in Sikh affairs

PATIALA : Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday has warned centre and prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh not to meddle in Sikh affairs  particularly against the disbanding the SGPC and formation of separate body for Gurdwaras in Haryana.



He however warned that as J&K was still simmers and it will be the duty of centre government not to create another controversy which may lead to the yet another problem.

Talking to media persons, soon after the 18th barsi samagam of Hardyal Singh Rajla at village Rajla 40 kms from here, he said that it was congress and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who has instrumented the division of SGPC and has proposed the separate management committee for historic Gurdwaras in Haryana.

He said that if centre will not prevent Haryana government for its move for separate body than country will pushed into another religion divide.

The Chief Minister recalled the singular role played by Master Tara Singh for securing justice for Punjab after independence. Master had spearheaded the movement for linguistic reorganization of Punjab (Punjabi Suba) and also for safeguarding the interests of the Sikh community as a minority in India.  He signed the historic Master Tara Singh – Nehru pact which prohibits the Central Government from taking any decision involving the religious rights of the Sikhs without the prior consent of the SGPC.

The Chief Minister however regretted that the Congress governments at the Centre always betrayed the commitments made to the Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular forcing them to undertake long and difficult struggles to get justice.

Badal said that since the issue was the matter of concern and to chalk out the strategy SAD has called the meeting of party's core committee on Tuesday at Chandigarh. He said that he will approach to the member parliaments of NDA also.

SAD supremo  said that SAD and he himself has the great respect for Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and still abiding all the HUKAMNAMAS issued from the Takhat.

This remark came when scribes inquired about former head granthi of Akal Takhat Sahib regarding any move behind the scene for patching up with Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS). He said that SAD has the great respect for former Head Priest of Akal Takhat Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti but it was purely a religious matter and prerogative of Akal Takhat and SGPC, SAD will not interfere in the matter.

He said that all Hukamnama issued against DSS by the Akal Takhat was still valid. He however said that if DSS wanted to exonerate they should approach to the Akal Takhat. 

SAD president -Sukhbir Singh Badal, General Secretary- Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, SAD youth wing president Kirambir Singh kang, Jagtar Singh Rajla etc. were also present on the occasion.