SGPC’s new house’s session likely after `Bandi Chhor’ Diwas’ Gurdwara

SGPC Chief Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar recently met him Gurdwara Election Commissioner HS Brar in Chandigarh where he requested the later to convene maiden session of the new body at the earliest. Apart from the swearing-in ceremony of members, the decisions regarding the co-option of 15 members, election of executive body and other prominent Sikh issues will be discussed in meeting.

The ruling SAD (B) had swept the polls throughout and enjoy the full-fledged majority in the House. It is almost a month since the elections results were declared and the SGPC and those keeping an eye on the Sikh affairs were surprised why the prolonged delay to call the session. ``The first session is to be called by the Gurdwara Commission and we have asked them to do so at the earliest’’, said Makkar.

The first session of the house is presided over by the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar who is presently Rajat Aggarwal. It would be perhaps for the first time that a non-Sikh would be presiding over session of the SGPC, controlling the Sikh Gurdwaras in the entire Northern India, excluding Delhi. Makkar hoped that the session would be held soon after the Bandi Chhor Diwas, though he did not comment on Aggarwal presiding over the session, saying this is up to the government to see.

##ad_2##With the session likely next week, the debate is also on to bring necessary reforms in the functioning of the SGPC. During the electioneering there was talk of transparency in the administration, accounts, lesser political interference and restoring the supremacy of the Akal Akaht. There experts feel that in the new  ession itself certain decisions would be taken to ensure that the SGPC to adopt modern and latest ways to run its administration of the Gurdwaras.

The surroundings of the Golden Temple pose a dirty and filthy picture. Though it is the duty of the government and civic bodies to provide the basic amenities, the SGPC could also spend some funds to beautify 

the areas around the Harmandar Sahib that attract around one lakh visitors daily but they are left disillusioned and annoyed on seeing the absence of basic amenities. The work on the Gallaiara project is

also going on snails’ pace leaving the visitors into discomforts.

(Dharminder Singh Rataul is Deputy Director, PR, Khalsa College Governing Council, Amritsar)