Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, November 7: Restoring the original character of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee being representative of all Sikhs would be discussed and debated at the November 10 Sarbat Khalsa convened by anti-Akali Sikh organisations at Amritsar.
While the organisers of the conclave would like to confine themselves to the immediate issues, the US based Sikhs for Justice has forwarded five resolutions for consideration adding radical tinge. These resolutions were today handed over to United Akali Dal leaders by AISSF chief Karnail Singh Peermohammad, who otherwise is among the organisers.
United Akali Dal convenor Mohkam Singh said the SGPC had ceased to articulate the collective will and aspirations of the Sikhs. The issue was how to make it broad-based so that this body includes representation from the Diaspora too. It may be mentioned that the representatives of the American gurdwara committees have already arrived to participate in the Amritsar conclave.
The present and past general house of the SGPC are defunct and final decision from the Supreme Court is awaited. The apex court had allowed the present executive that is from the previous general house to continue to perform routine functions. Next election can be held only after the case is disposed of by the Supreme Court. Moreover, making it representative and participatory would need amendment to the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925 that might have to be replaced by a new legislation.
US based Sikhs for Justice too has sent five resolutions for consideration.The SFJ has made it known that it would like the conclave to be held under the leadership of five religious leaders.
Besides the appointment of new Takht jathedars, the conclave would also deliberate upon the decline in Sikh population in Punjab in the last decade.
The resolutions that the SFJ has forwarded for consideration and deliberation include liberating Punjab from “Indian occupation”, to work towards implementation of the dream of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (Who never raised the Khalistan slogan), mobilization of support for Referendum 2020 campaign seeking UN administered referendum to achieve the goal set at January 26, 1986 Sarbat Khalsa and launching of civil disobedience movement. SFJ spokesman Gurpatwant Singh Pannu said he had authorized Peermohammad to take up these resolutions with the organisers.
It may be mentioned that the organisers are trying to avoid any reference to the demand for Sikh homeland that is not an issue in Punjab. It may be mentioned that during the mass upsurge that was witnessed recently in the state, there was no raising of any radical slogans.
The people have already suffered too much for more than a decade earlier.
