AMRITSAR: Giani Raghbir Singh Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib strongly condemned arbitrarily amended the Act of Takht Sachkhand Sri Abichal Nagar, Hazur Sahib Nanded Management Board by the Government of Maharashtra and reduced the number of members nominated by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. of the act of raising and it has termed as a direct interference in the religion of Sikhs.
In a statement issued by the Akal Takht Sahib Secretariat, Giani Raghbir Singh said that the Sikh panth cannot tolerate government interference in the arrangements of its holy shrines at any cost.
He has ordered the Shiromani Committee to negotiate with the Maharashtra government and withdraw its anti-Sikh decision on the matter of arbitrarily changing the act of the Sikhs' holy throne Sachkhand Sri Abichal Nagar, Hazur Sahib Administrative Board.
Meanwhile Taking serious notice of the government's action to reduce the number of members of Sikh organizations in Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Nanded Gurdwara Board, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that it is very sad and condemnable.
He has written a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde regarding this matter and has expressed strong objection and has asked for time for a meeting considering the seriousness of the matter.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Advocate Dhami said that the arbitrary amendment of the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Parbandhak Board Act by the Cabinet of Maharashtra Government is a direct interference in the Sikh Gurdwara arrangements. He said that the purpose of representation of members of Sikh organizations in the Nanded Gurdwara Board is to ensure the functioning of the board in a transparent and religious manner in view of the dignity of Takht Sahib and the respective Sikh Gurdhams. He expressed concern that any distortion in the Act would hurt this sentiment.
He said that the Maharashtra government's decision to increase the number of government-nominated members in the Gurdwara Board and reduce the number of members of Sikh organizations is an act of direct occupation of Sikh Gurdhams, which cannot be tolerated. The government did not hold any prior consultation with the representative organizations and organizations of the Sikhs before proposing such an amendment to the management board of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib.
Advocate Dhami appealed to Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde to immediately stop the actions of increasing government influence in the management of Sikh Gurdhams and to immediately stop the violation of Act 1956 related to Shri Hazur Sahib Gurdwara Board. He said that participation of representatives of Sikh organizations should be ensured in the Nanded Gurdwara Board as before.
He said that there is a movement of great protest in the entire Sikh world regarding this amendment, which is being expressed by the Sangats by contacting the Shiromani Committee. The Sangats of Maharashtra are also expressing strong objections regarding this.