PATIALA: While rejecting the proposals submitted by the Minorities ‘Commission to the Union Government for making amendments in the Gurdwara Act, the SGPC chief, Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra, said that the commission had failed to address the main issue regarding the “definition of Sikh.”

Mr, Tohra said that proposals mooted by the Minorities Commission to the Union Government were a subtle and veiled attack on the “basic concept of Miri and Piri” of Sikhism.

Mr, Tohra said that while submitting its proposals, the commission had not made any recommendation asking the Union Government to recognize the “definition of Sikh” and including the same in the Gurdwara Act. The SGPC chief said that this had been done by. The commission under a pressure of anti Panthic forces.

‘A deputation of the SGPC led by Mr. ‘Tohra had met the commission a few months ago and had presented list of suggestions about the amendments to be made in the Gurdwara Act. At that time Mr. Tohra had urged the commission authorities to incorporate the “definition of Sikh” in the Gurdwara ‘Act which had been enacted by Parliament.

Making a dig at MR. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, a representative of Sikhs in the commission, Mr, Tohra said that even he had failed to get the recommendation made to Union Government about the ‘‘definition” from the commission authorities, Mr. Tohra said Mr, Ramoowalia had promised the SGPC to get the definition incorporated in the Gurdwara Act. He said MR. Ramoowalia seemed to have failed to take stand on this issue and buckled down under pressure from anti Sikh forces.

‘The other recommendations made by the commission, Mr, Tohra said, regarding amendments in the Gurdwara Act were meaningless to the Sikhs. He said that in the absence ‘Of. A proper “definition of Sikh” in the Gurdwara Act, other recommendations made by commission could be used to “dilute” the management of Gurdwaras by Panth by forces positioned against “Sikhism,”

‘Among the other recommendations of the commission were holding elections to the SGPC after every five Years should’ be mandatory for the ‘Union Government, the election to the post of President of the SGPC which is at present held every year should be held after every two and a half years and/to give legal recognition to Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) as fifth Takht of Sikhs.

Mr, Tohra said that the recommendation about increasing the strength of the House of the SGPC to 200, including nominated members, was Ridiculous.” He said the SGPC had a budget of only Rs 2, 5 crore and such an expansion would have an adverse effect on the management of ‘gurdwaras. He said the SGPC should be a compact body.

‘The reservation of seats in the SGPC was also against the tenets.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 21, 1996