Eyes on HSGMC poll, Nalvi floats party

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, July 24

Senior vice-president of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (ad hoc) Didar Singh Nalvi today floated a new organisation to contest gurdwara elections in the state.

Addressing mediapersons after holding a meeting with supporters, Nalvi said the organisation, which was yet to be named, would also raise human rights and other issues of Sikhs, who were a minority community in the state.

Nalvi said the front would remain independent from any political interference and also stay away from Assembly or Parliamentary elections. He claimed support of at least four other members of HSGMC (ad hoc) for the initiative.

Earlier, HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda had formed Janta Akali Dal (JAD) to contest gurdwara elections and Assembly or Parliamentary polls in various states.

Nalvi said unlike JAD, his organisation would not allow politicians to eclipse the shrine management.

“In 2000, we had started a fight to free Haryana gurdwaras from the clutches of the SGPC that is controlled by Akali leaders of Punjab. By floating a political front, Jhinda had also followed in the footsteps of Akalis to maintain influence on religious and political levels,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jhinda alleged Nalvi was playing into the hands of Akali leadership to divide Sikhs of the state. “With the majority support of the HGSMC members, JAD was floated to safeguard the interests of Sikhs in Haryana and other states. We are also fighting a legal battle to have an independent gurdwara panel. But Nalvi’s futile effort would create confusion among Sikh sangat over leadership issue,” said Jhinda.