Youth’s killing dominates DGPC election campaign

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 6

Protests over the killing of a Sikh youth recently in police firing following the removal of a poster of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in Jammu dominated the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) elections campaign.

The DGPC elections will be held on July 8.

As many as 189 candidates are in the fray in the 10 districts of the Jammu region and 110 candidates will be elected by more than one lakh voters. The last DGPC elections were held in 2003.

Though the high-voltage campaigning ended peacefully on July 5, the tension is visible among the representative organisations of the Sikhs as there is a growing influence of radical groups, particularly in the restive Sikh-dominated areas, Simbal camp, Gadi Garh, RS Pura, Suchetgarh, Satwari and Nanak nagar. The community feels betrayed by the government and mishandling of recent protests by the administration.

“We have faced discrimination for years and recent events have again demonstrated that the community will not get justice. Though this election is being held after 12 years, voters should elect those who can fight for their rights,” said Makhan Singh, member presidium, J&K United Sikh Council.

Major points which dominated the campaigning included implementation of the Nanak Shahi calendar, failure of successive governments to introduce Punjabi at the school level, demand for reservation of community youth in technical and professional institutions, extending provisions of a separate Anand Marriage Act in J&K, settlement package for Sikh refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir living in the state and action against police personnel involved in alleged use of excessive force against protesters at Satwari.

As per the Sikh Gurdwaras and Religious Endowment Act of 1973, the State Gurdwaras Parbandhak Board (SGPB), which manages the Sikh religious institutions across the state, will be constituted through the DGPCs, which are elected by a polling process by the respective Deputy Commissioner.

“The community youth face economic and employment issues which need immediate solution and this body has the power to bargain with the government. The management of Gurdwaras also needs major reforms,” said Tarlochan Singh Wazir, president, State Gurdwara Parbandhak Board.

The Jammu region will elect 110 members and Kashmir, including Ladakh, will elect another 110 people. Then 220 members will elect the SGPB. There are 48 candidates in Jammu, Kathua (22), Rajouri (16), Reasi (10), Samba (21), Doda (11), Kishtwar (11), Poonch (11), Udhampur (14) and Ramban (25).

Additional Commissioner, Jammu, Rehana Batool said all arrangements had been made for the elections. “Some of the members have been elected unanimously in a few districts, but they will be announced on the counting day,” Batool said.