DSGMC seeks amendment in Gurdwara Act

Syed Ali Ahmed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 19

The DSGMC has submitted a proposal to the Delhi government seeking amendment in the Delhi Gurdwara Act 1971 to include Damdama Sahib at Nizamuddin as fifth Takhat in Sikh religion.

The proposal is likely to be tabled in coming session of the Delhi Assembly. Thereafter, it would be sent to Home Minister through the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal for Centre’s consent as it is an Act of Parliament, said BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, also DSGMC general secretary, adding that presently the Sikh community has four Takhats – Akal Takhat at Amritsar, Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur, Harmandir Sahib at Patna, Hazur Sahib at Nanded (Maharashtra).

Sirsa said, “We have been raising this issue before SAD Badal was elected to DSGMC in 2013. In 2013 again, we submitted the proposal to Delhi government for the amendment.”

He said, the DSGMC executive board announced the resolution again on April 24. It has written to the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections, Delhi government, LG, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Union Ministry of Law and Justice regarding the same.

For the same, Delhi government has constituted a three-member committee in the chairmanship of Rajinder Pal Gautam, Minister Social Welfare to assess the proposal.