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Human Interest

Gobind Singh Longowal re-elected becomes 43rd SGPC president

JAGMOHAN SINGH | November 13, 2018 05:04 PM

AMRITSAR: Former four times MLA, former Punjab Cabinet Minister, Gobind Singh Longowal becomes 43rd Shriomani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee (SGPC) President during its annual general house meeting. He was re-elected today as first time he became President of this prestigious religious body last year November 2017.

His name was first proposed by the former SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur thereafter another former SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar seconded his name.

Longowal was the sole candidate for post of SGPC president when his name was proposed by Bibi Jagir Kaur as none of the SGPC came forward to contest against the serving president. Hence he was elected unanimously amidst the religious slogans of Bol-e-So-Nihal Sat-Sri-Akal at the mini Sikh Parliament in Teja Singh Samudari Hall in the SGPC premises.

However, Gurbachan Singh Karmuwal elected as General Secretary as Ragujit Singh Virk has been elected as Senior Vice President of SGPC. Similarly Bikar Singh was elected as junior vice president of SGPC.

Gobind Singh Longowal who becomes the SGPC chief remained MLA in 1985, 1997 and 2002. He had also win by-elections from Dhuri when Congress MLA Arvind Khanna resigned in 2015. Longowal was also remained cabinet minister in the Akali Government. He had become SGPC member in 2011.

However, eleven Executive members were also elected are Amrik Singh, Gurmit Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Jarnail Singh, Jagjit Singh, Kushwinder Singh, Manjit Singh, Amrik Singh, Jasbir Singh, Shingara Singh Lohian and Tara Singh.

Some SGPC members boycotted the elections when the name of Gobind Singh Longowal was proposed. They left the venue by saying that they were supporting the Sikh people staging stir at Bargari demanding arrest of culprits accountable for sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.

It may be added here that there are total 180 members of SGPC General house out of which 174 members have right to vote, whereas 159 elected and 15 are nominated.

There was much chaos when female SGPC member Bibi Kiranjot Kaur stood to speak to defend the historian Dr. Kirpal Singh. She was not allowed by the SGPC members to speak on the dais and bedlam remained continued unless she left.  

Agitating SGPC members were saying that Dr. Kirpal Singh was instrumental for preparing the Sikh history text books of PSEB. Keeping in view the gross distortion of facts in the 12th standards text books SGPC had recently decided to disassociate with Professor Kirpal Singh.

 
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