The Tribune – SAD sees design to scuttle DSGMC poll

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today condemned the Delhi Government’s decision to amend the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1971, increasing the tenure of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) House from the existing two to four years and proposing direct election to the post of its president.

In a statement here, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the decision was an anti-democratic exercise to scuttle the elections that were to be held before December 31 this year as per a court directive. The SAD also termed the decision as direct interference by the Congress in the religious affairs of the Sikhs.

The SAD president said the decision indicated that DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna, fearing that his group would be wiped out in the elections, wanted to remain on the post by tweaking the law.

Sukhbir said as DSGMC elections were being postponed by the Union Home Ministry on one plea or other, the Delhi High Court had to intervene and order the Home Ministry to hold these by December 31 this year.

Now the Shiela Dikshit government had come to the rescue of the Sarna group to keep it in power “illegally,” he claimed. The SAD president said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD MPs and its NDA partners would soon call on the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister urging them to stop this “mischief” and hold the DSGMC elections before December 31 as per the court order. He said the SAD would also organise a ‘dharna’ in New Delhi to expose the dubious role of the Congress in the “anti-Sikh” campaign.

Sukhbir claimed that the Congress was playing vote bank politics by opposing the “ Peace Memorial” and raising the bogey of militancy to create a phobia among the Hindu voters.

A party press note stated that Badal would discuss the issue at the party’s core group meeting and consult legal experts to chalk out the next course of action.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121010/punjab.htm#10

The Tribune – SAD leaders accused of committing sacrilege

Tribune News Service

Fatehgarh Sahib, September 30. Former Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly Bir Devinder Singh has urged Akal Takht Jathedar to summon Bikramjit Singh Majithia and Prem Singh Chandumajra for committing sacrilege at the Diwan Todar Mal Yaadgari Hall, inside the historic shrine of Fatehgarh Sahib, during a rally organised by Youth Akali Dal (YAD) on September 25.

Bir Devinder demanded immediate intervention from the high priests of the Five Sikh Takhts and urged them to jointly visit Diwan Hall to take cognizance of the matter.

Bikramjit Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister and president of the Youth Akali Dal, Prem Singh Chandumajra, SAD general secretary, senior SAD leaders and members of the SGPC, who were present at the rally violated the Sikh traditions, said Bir Devinder.

The former Speaker said chairs were laid in Diwan Todar Mal Yaadgari Hall and volunteers of the Youth Akali Dal entered the hall wearing shoes and with their heads uncovered. The traditional Sikh practices were ignored and the sanctity of the historic Diwan Todar Mal Yaadgari Hall was reduced to that of a marriage palace or a banquet hall, he said.

Chandumajra refuted the allegations and said the religious place was not disrespected. He said they had organised a social function to create awareness among the youth against drug abuse and female foeticide.

He said Congress leaders who were levelling allegations against them should do some introspection as they were responsible for the demolition of various Sikh shrines including Akal Takht during Operation Blue Star.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121001/punjab.htm#10

The Hindu – Badal to spell out stand on Rajoana issue

SAD asks government to take steps to ensure clemency for Rajoana

Sarabjit Pandher

Chandigarh 25 March 2012. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will make a special statement in the Assembly, now in session, on the Punjab government’s stance on the issue of convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is to be hanged on March 31 for his involvement in the assassination of Beant Singh in 1995.

Mr. Badal gave the assurance after the core committee of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal asked the government to take all possible legal and other steps to secure clemency for “Bhai” Rajoana, who was recently bestowed with the title of “zinda shaheed” by the supreme religio-temporal seat, Akal Takhat, a SAD release said.

The Sikh community’s apex clerics had edicted the Akali Dal to save Rajoana. Mr. Badal is likely to take up the issue with the BJP high command (coalition partner) before he makes a statement in the House.

Chaired by party president Sukhbir Singh, the Akali Dal’s core committee, which met here, appreciated the fact that the Punjab government had returned the warrants of execution as it was legally not possible to execute them. The committee fully backed the efforts being taken by the government to secure clemency.

Clemency appeal

The committee also asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to immediately file a clemency appeal before the President. It said the SAD was prepared to “go to any extent to secure clemency for Bhai Rajoana so that the hard-earned peace and communal harmony in the State is not disturbed.”

However, the BJP chose to distance itself from the issue as State unit chief Ashwani Kumar preferred to leave the final decision to the national leadership and courts. He said the party was opposed to terrorism in all forms and nobody should be allowed to interfere in court matters.

On the other hand, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh appreciated the stand taken by the family of Beant Singh that Rajoana’s death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment. Captain Singh said, “Sardar Beant Singh [then Chief Minister] gave his life for peace in Punjab and the members of his family today are united in their belief that peace must be maintained in the State at all costs.”

BSF deployed

Meanwhile, following a call given by various organisations to observe a bandh on March 28 and organise “khalsa marches” from March 29 onwards, the government is deploying the Border Security Force at sensitive places, while patrolling by the police has been intensified. Security forces are expected to hold flag marches and organise searches in large cities and sensitive areas.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article3223672.ece

The Tribune – SAD co-opts 15 members of SGPC General House

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 5 After sweeping the SGPC elections, the ruling SAD further strengthened its position by co-opting candidates on all 15 seats at the first meeting of the newly formed House at Teja Singh Samundari Hall here today. The SAD already has 157 of the 170 elected members in the House. The Opposition with only 13 members presented a name for co-option, but it was rejected on technical grounds.

Those who made it to the new SGPC House through co-option include former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar, former executive member Karnail Singh Panjoli, Ram Singh, Jagtar Singh Rode (all from Punjab) former SGPC senior vice-president Raghujeet Singh Virk from Haryana, Surjeet Singh Kang from Rajasthan, Sharanjeet Singh, Charanjeet Singh, Sukhmeet Singh (all from UP), Harbhajan Singh Cheema from Uttarakhand, Harmanjeet Singh, Bhupinder Singh Anand, Gurminder Singh Matharu (all from New Delhi), Gurinder Singh Bawa from Mumbai and Sukhwinder Kaur from MP.

Badungar and Virk have made it to the SGPC House through co-option for the third consecutive time. Similarly, Bawa and Anand have got another chance from Mumbai and Delhi, respectively. The SAD gave one seat to its alliance partner, the Sant Samaj, by co-opting Jagtar Singh Rode, former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode’s brother, a confidant of Damdami Taksal Chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa.

The meeting was presided over by Tarn Taran DC Satwant Singh Johal. When the meeting began at 1 pm, the elected members were asked to choose the chairman to run the House proceedings. Rajinder Singh Mehta proposed the name of Avtar Singh Makkar, which was seconded by Amarjeet Singh Chawla. Makkar then led the proceedings to co-opt 15 members to the House.

There was chaos for a brief period when Opposition members Kulbir Singh Barapind, Surjeet Singh and Gurpreet Singh Chhabar insisted that one of their members be co-opted. The suggestion was turned down by the SAD. As the Opposition members charged towards the dais, the DC intervened and asked them to name their candidate. They moved the name of Bhai Isher Singh from Hyderabad but could not furnish the required documents.

Sikh Gurdwara Election Commissioner HS Brar, who was also present at the meeting, said the names of the co-opted members would be sent to the Centre which would issue a notification.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111206/punjab.htm#1