The Tribune – Documents missing from DSGMC office, says new president

Syed Ali Ahmed, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 27. The newly elected DSGMC president, Manjit Singh (GK), and general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa today claimed that documents pertaining to the controversial Guru Harkrishan Hospital on the premises of Gurdwara Bala Sahib and the under- construction parking at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib were missing.

The previous gurdwara committee led by Paramjeet Singh Sarna had given the hospital on a lease to BL Kapoor Hospital. But the same was challenged by SAD leader Kuldeep Singh Bhogal in court.

“We wanted to know the agreement details as we want to scrap the lease and run the hospital on our own,” said GK.

The SAD had said in its election manifesto that if voted to power, it would scrap the lease deed and run the hospital on charity.

Sarna said that “all the documents were handed over to DSGMC general manager, Ram Singh, after my party’s defeat.

“As far as money donated for the construction of the parking is concerned, I have not taken a single paise. A sum of Rs 13 crore has been deposited as FD. The details are available with Guru Harikrishan Medical Trust.”

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The Tribune – Sarna has moved court to free schools from DSGMC control, claims SAD leader

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 22. The Delhi unit chief of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Manjit Singh (GK), today said that the outgoing president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Paramjit Singh Sarna, had moved the court, appealing that Guru Harkrishan Public School (GHPS) run by the governing body of Guru Harkrishan Educational Society should be exempted from the control of the DSGMC. He said this was a new tactic employed by the outgoing president to keep the institution under his control.

The chairman of the society’s governing body, Rachpal Singh Kochar, was general secretary in the previous gurdwara committee. Denying the allegation against him, Sarna said: “I have not filed any case. I have never filed a case against anybody. I have lost the election. I accepted that with grace. Why should I move the court ?”

But Rachpal Singh admitted that the society had filed a petition, seeking exemption from DSGMC control on legal grounds. He said the society (number 483) was registered in 1970-71 to run schools independently. But four years later, it was “captured” by the gurdwara committee. “Whenever school teachers or employees are transferred by the DSGMC administration, they get a stay order from the court on the ground that the schools do not come under purview of the gurdwara committee.

“The society is an independent body that runs the schools. Only the the society can take action against its school employees,” he said.

The National Commission for Minority Education had in 2011 given a certificate to the society recognising that it was an independent body, he added.

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Sify.com – Sukhbir Badal thanks Delhi Sikhs for gurdwara poll win

Chandigarh, 30 January (IANS). With his party Wednesday moving to get a clear majority in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) election, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) president Sukhbir Singh Badal thanked the Sikh community in the capital.

The Akali Dal routed a group led by DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna, which had dominated Delhi Sikh politics and managed the Sikh shrines in the national capital for over a decade. Sarna himself was defeated from the Punjabi Bagh seat by Akali Dal candidate Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

Akali Dal candidates were declared winners in 23 out of the 46 constituencies in the DSGMC poll till afternoon. The winners included Akali Dal leader Manjit Singh GK.

Sukhbir Badal, who is Punjab deputy chief minister, said: “The Sikh community has reposed faith in us. We will deliver by fulfilling all promises made in our manifesto.”

“This election is a reminder to Sarnas that those who stabbed the Sikh community in the back by hobnobbing with the Congress, would be severely punished by the community,” he said.

He said the Akali Dal would strive further to seek conviction of Congress leaders involved in the massacre of thousands of Sikhs in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Badal said the DSGMC election results were an indicator of the ensuing rout of the Congress in the Delhi assembly election and the 2014 general election.

Speaking to media in New Delhi after his group’s defeat, a defiant Sarna, who was backed by Congress leaders, including Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh, said: “These (Akali Dal) people will ruin everything. We have no regret (about the defeat).”

http://www.sify.com/news/badal-thanks-delhi-sikhs-for-gurdwara-poll-win-news-national-nb4skgdeihc.html

The Tribune – Sarna claims false cases against ‘sewadars’; SAD alleges some Task Force members are criminals

Jangveer Singh, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 20. Cases have been registered against members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Task Force. This comes as a setback to DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna, who is engaged in a bitter struggle with the SAD over the control of the religious body.

Sources here said members of the task force, who were mostly from Punjab, were now “unable” to reach Delhi to help Sarna’s Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) in the DSGMC election campaign. While cases have been registered against some Task Force members, others have been reportedly “persuaded” to keep off the campaign.

The 60-member Task Force led by Charanjit Singh Channi of Ludhiana, Manjit Singh of Amritsar and Devinder Singh of Moga had been brought together by the Sarna group for the much-needed muscle power. All Task Force members are from rural Punjab recruited on a monthly salary of Rs 5,000.

Brandishing sticks and swords, the Task Force had in November last year prevented SAD leader Manjit Singh GK and his supporters from barging into DSGMC’s executive body meeting. GK had suffered a head injury.

The fact that the Task Force members are based in Punjab has proved to be Sarna’s undoing. Sarna, when questioned on the issue, said: “I have not created any task force.The youth recruited from Punjab are ‘sewadars’ entrusted with the day-to-day management of prominent gurdwaras in Delhi.” He alleged that the SAD-BJP Government had taken the help of the police to conduct raids at the residences of the “sewadars” to pressure them into quitting their duties. He alleged that cases had been registered against 20 youths and that the family members of other “sewadars” were also under pressure.

He said cases had been registered against senior “sewadars” Charanjit Singh Channi of Ludhiana and Devinder Singh of Moga.

The Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) was not available for comment. The Gurdaspur SSP denied that any Task Force member had been targeted.

Daljit Singh Cheema, SAD spokesman, said if anybody was a rapist or a proclaimed offender (Charanjit Singh Channi), he would be hauled up by the police.

He said that Sarna had created the Task Force to instil fear in his opponents and it was also being used to shelter illegal activities.

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The Tribune – Sarna, Badal groups target each other as poll campaign picks up

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 13. With the campaign for the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) elections picking momentum, the ruling SAD (Delhi) led by Paramjit Singh Sarna and the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD are making all-out efforts to woo voters. The DSGMC is the second most important Sikh body after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC).

Sarna said they had been urging voters to draw a comparison between the working of the DSGMC and the SGPC. He claimed that the management of gurdwaras controlled by the DSGMC was far better than of those being run by the SGPC, with the exception of the Golden Temple.

He said educational institutions too were better managed by the DSGMC. “We have made concerted efforts to resolve Sikh issues at the national as well as the international level. The DSGMC has been propagating Sikhism in foreign lands by sending preachers abroad. On the contrary, under the SGPC, drug addiction and apostasy has been on the rise in Punjab,” Sarna claimed.

He alleged that the SAD had repeatedly violated the directions of the Akal Takht and he could quote several instances to prove his point.

On the other hand, the SAD’s Delhi unit chief, Manjit Singh GK, alleged that it was the DSGMC under Sarna that had been violating the directions of the Akal Takht, such as Gurpurb celebrations. Educational institutions run by the DSGMC were in a bad shape and correlectionsuption was rampant. Manjit Singh also alleged that the DSGMC had failed to get justice for the 1984 riot victims.

The SAD is also raking up the Gurdwara Bala Sahib controversy to target the Sarna brothers. The SAD alleges that gurdwara land was allotted to a private organisation for raising a hospital in violation of norms.

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The Tribune – Sarna denies hospital ownership charge

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 19. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said there had been no transfer of ownership of the DSGMC hospital on Gurdwara Bala Sahib premises in New Delhi.

He refuted all the allegations in this regard. He said the DSGMC under him has been managing the gurdwara affairs in the capital with complete transparency. Sarna said this while responding to a news report.

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The Tribune – Sarna, Badal to cross swords in Delhi gurdwara panel elections

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 17. With the stage set for the DSGMC elections next month, archrivals — ruling SAD (Delhi) led by Paramjit Singh Sarna and the opposition SAD (Badal) — are all geared up for the polls that will be keenly contested which is evident from the violent clash between the two groups at the Gurdwara Rakabganj in New Delhi on November 15.

While the SAD (Badal) is eying a hattrick after scoring victories in the SGPC elections and the Punjab Assembly polls, the SAD (Delhi) is making all out efforts to ensure that it retains power in the DSGMC elections, which are being held after a delay of almost a couple of years.

After emerging stronger in the last year’s SGPC elections, in which the opposition was almost wiped out, the SAD (Badal) sees an opportunity to extend its control over the gurdwaras from Punjab and Haryana, extending up to the national capital. The optimism of SAD (Badal) stems from the fact that Sarna is facing the heat over various issues.

Among them are transferring ownership of a DSGMC hospital at Gurdwara Bala Sahib premises to a private trust and allegedly stalling the move to dedicate a park in Punjabi Bagh to 1984 riot victims. Till now, Sarna has managed to restrict SAD (Badal) to Punjab and Haryana. In July this year, he even managed to have his men elected to the Takht Shri Patna Sahib Management Board.

Also the fact that the DSGMC is the second most important and second richest gurdwara body after the SGPC will make the two groups vie with each other to wrest its control. The recent move of the Delhi government to bring in an amendment which proposes direct election of the DSGMC president has already brought the two groups face to face and the recent clash in Rakabganj Gurdwara is being seen by many as a consequence of this confrontation.

DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said, “We are ready to go to the polls. We were even prepared earlier also when the polls were scheduled for March this year. We’ve already decided the names of our candidates in 95 per cent of the seats. Mostly, we’ve re-nominated our sitting members. In the remaining six out of the total 46 seats, we are yet to finalise the names as there are more aspirants.”

On the other hand, SAD secretary Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema said the party was well prepared for the elections and their Delhi unit was already active on this front.

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The Tribune – Delhi Gurdwara Clash; Sarna-Shanty rift to be blamed

Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 16. A day after activists of the SAD (Delhi) and the SAD (Badal) engaged in a violent clash at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib in Delhi, it has come to light that serious differences between Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna and its general secretary Gurmeet Singh Shanty sparked the row.

Sources say that Sarna is facing problems in running the gurdwara affairs as Shanty is reportedly not cooperating with him. Gurdwara funds can only be cleared with the consent of both the DSGMC president and the general secretary. The executive meeting called at Rakabganj Sahib yesterday was to discuss the “running of gurdwara affairs smoothly” and Shanty apparently apprehended that his wings would be clipped. So, he reportedly invited SAD (Badal) leaders to the meeting to counter any such attempt.

Talking to The Tribune, Sarna said ever since Shanty’s wife was elected councillor on the BJP ticket, he had been “hobnobbing” with the SAD (Badal). He alleged that he had been indulging in corrupt practices for the past some time.”

We did not plan to take away all his powers, but definitely wanted to curtail these. Shanty has no authority to have a special invitee at the executive meeting without my consent,” Sarna said.

On the other hand, Shanty maintained that he had the authority to call any elected DSGMC member to the meeting and that he had been doing so in the past too. He said the opposition had been levelling charges of corruption on the manner in which the DSGMC affairs were being run and regarding a hospital on the premises of Gurdwara Bala Sahib.

“Hence, I thought it would be prudent to invite all four SAD (Badal) members to the meeting where the two issues were to be taken up,” Shanty said.

He denied he had refused to sanction funds for DSGMC works and claimed to have stopped funds ” that Sarna wanted to use for his party affairs.” He said he had even brought the issue to the notice of New Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna.

Akal Takht forms probe panel

The Akal Takht has formed a three-member panel to probe the violent clash that took place at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib in New Delhi on Thursday. The panel comprises former SGPC Secretary Waryam Singh, Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon, GNDU, and Inderjit Singh Gugwani. Satbir Singh, SGPC secretary, will be the coordinator. The committee will submit its report by November 22.

Ever since Shanty’s wife was elected councillor on the BJP ticket, he has been hobnobbing with the SAD (Badal). He has been indulging in corrupt practices for the past some time. We intended to curtail his powers

— Paramjit Singh Sarna, DSGMC President

I have the authority to call any elected DSGMC member to the meeting. I thought it prudent to invite all four SAD (Badal) members to the meeting, where contentious issues were to be taken up, for the sake of transparency

— Gurmeet Singh Shanty, DSGMC General Secretary

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The Tribune – Second clash between Badal, Sarna factions; The Akali factions had clashed at Gurdwara Bala Sahib in New Delhi on March 2 this year

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 15. The SAD (Delhi) and the SAD (Badal) have blamed each other for the Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib violence in Delhi. The two sides have been on a collision course ever since the SAD (Delhi) led by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna proposed an amendment for direct election to the post of DSGMC president.

Talking to The Tribune, Sarna said an executive meeting was on when SAD (Badal) leaders like Avtar Singh Hit and Manjit Singh GK and their supporters tried to force their way into the venue. “When stopped by sewadars on duty, they threw stones, broke windows and resorted to violence, brandishing swords and opening fire into the air.”

He said the SAD (Badal) leaders had no right to be present at the executive meeting. He alleged that the SAD (Badal) leaders had “lost their balance” and were conniving with DSGMC general secretary Gurmit Singh whose wife had recently been elected BJP councillor in New Delhi.

On the other hand, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said the DSGMC general secretary had sent invitations to SAD (Badal) leaders for the meeting. “But when they reached there, they were attacked by DSGMC task force members without any provocation”.

He alleged that Sarna apprehended defeat in the coming DSGMC elections and “all this was done in connivance with the Delhi Government in an attempt to delay the poll.” He said they would urge Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to initiate action against those who had attacked SAD (Badal) leaders. He said they would also seek DSGMC elections under the watchful eyes of the Union Home Ministry.

Daljeet Singh Cheema, SAD (Badal) secretary, said Sarna and the Delhi Government were equally responsible for the clash in the gurdwara premises. He termed it as “direct interference by the Congress in the religious affairs of Sikhs”, which, he said, would not be tolerated.

Sikh scholar Ashok Singh Bagrian said there was a need to de-politicise gurdwara management. “Religion should not be used for attaining political power,” he said.

Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh termed the incident as unfortunate. He alleged that the SAD (Badal) was desperate to take control of Delhi gurdwaras.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh termed the clash as unfortunate. He said the clergy would discuss the issue at its next meeting after receiving the details of the incident. On March 2 this year, the two Akali factions had clashed at Gurdwara Bala Sahib in New Delhi over “bhoomi pujan” for a hospital building on the gurdwara premises.

Gurdwara Politics

The SAD (Badal) leaders had no right to be present at the executive meeting. They have lost their balance and are conniving with DSGMC general secretary Gurmit Singh whose wife has been elected BJP councillor in New Delhi

— Paramjit Singh Sarna, DSGMC chief

The DSGMC general secretary had sent invitations to SAD (Badal) leaders for the meeting. But when they reached there,

they were attacked by DSGMC task force members without any provocation

— Avtar  Singh Makkar, SGPC chief

There is a need to de-politicise gurdwara management. Religion should not be used for attaining political power

— Sikh scholar Ashok Singh Bagrian

The incident is unfortunate.The SAD (Badal) is desperate to take control of Delhi gurdwaras

— Kanwarpal Singh Dal Khalsa president

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121116/punjab.htm#1

The Tribune – Sarna hints at early ‘Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee’ elections

Syed Ali Ahmed, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 6. Elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) could be held any time, indicated its president Paramjit Singh Sarna today.

Declining to give a specific date for the elections, he said there was no point in delaying the elections further and these should be held before December 31 this year. After Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister recently, asking them to ensure that the DSGMC elections were held by the year-end, the SAD started demanding that Punjabi Bagh be renamed in the memory of the 1984 riot victims. This was done to woo the electorate.

Sarna said when the Congress controlled the Delhi Municipal Corporation, the Ministry of Home Affairs had given permission to rename the park in memory of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal. But the decision was put on hold by the BJP that came to power subsequently.

Manjit Singh, SAD’s Delhi unit chief, said the South Delhi Municipal Corporation had agreed to renaming the park in memory of the riot victims but the Municipal Commissioner had binned the move on the “directions of the Delhi Government.” V S Yadav, personal secretary to the SDMC Mayor, said a resolution on the matter was rejected by Municipal Commissioner on technical grounds.

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