Sikh umbrella group to throw hat in SGPC poll ring

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 23

A number of Sikh religious, educational and non-profit organisations have come together to form an umbrella group called the Panthic Talmel Sangathan (PTS). The group has announced it will contest the elections to the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Panthic Talmel Sangathan spokesperson Rajinder Singh informed that to reach out to the Sikh community on a larger scale, a 100 member core committee has been given the nod to campaign, covering 1 lakh 25,000 households.

The decision to start a campaign to reach out to Sikh families in 22 districts was taken at a meeting held in Ludhiana. The Amritsar wing of the Panthic Talmel Sangathankickstarted its canvassing with a door-to-door electoral survey, by getting detailed information about their social, economical and religious standing and encouraging them to join the campaign.

Panthic Talmel Sangathan leaders justified that a call has been given to take part in the upcoming SGPC elections to take the message of the Akal Takht to the masses and enable people from a different background to represent them. It will be for the first time that the SAD (B) will face a challenge in the SGPC elections.

“Akal Takht is the highest authority for the Sikh community globally and should be so represented. We want to work to motivate the Sikh community in Punjab and overseas, to support true representation of the panthic principles and agenda,” said Rajinder Singh in an official statement released by the Panthic Talmel Sangathan.

The ‘panthic kafila’ or religious caravan will carry out extensive campaigning before the dates for the election are announced, the press release informed.