CHANDIGARH: The Sangh parivar has no plans to take over the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee either directly or indirectly by participating in the SGPC elections scheduled to be held before February 28 1995.

 The former chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the R S S chief in the six north states. Mr. Jitendra Vir Gupta dismissed such reports.

 “The Akal Takht acting jathedar Manjit Singh had last week alleged that some Sangh parivar activists were enlisting themselves as Sahejdhari Sikhs and had that anyone using this guise to get into the management of the gurdwaras would be debarred Sahejdhari is are followers of Sikhism but do not Keep the five

Manjit Singh did not contest right of the Sahejdhari to enroll as voters of the SGPC. But he mid the Sikhs had made many Sacrifices in the early 20 s to liberate the gurdwara us from the mahants who had Camed these shrines into their freedoms. They should not be allowed to regain control of the Sikh shrines. he added. Reacting sharply to Mr. Manjit Singhs statement Mr Gupta said it was absurd to equate the Schajdhan Sikhs with the mahants of the 20s. The roles had been reversed the present SGPC management had developed interests and the min was calling the shots and dictating terms to Sikh leaders and scholars he added. Commenting on the Controversy the Akali Dal (B) leader and former Punjab home minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh said it was premature to apprehend any danger from the Sangh parivar as elections had not started In any case only Amritdhari Sikhs could be elected to the SGPC he pointed Out adding that such apprehensions only reflected the crisis of confidence in the present SGPC leadership. Besides it should have faith in the Judgement of the Sikh community.

The state secretary elections KK Bhatnagar confirmed that preparation of the electoral rolls for the SGPC elections would start much liter in the year after the Union government appointed the chief election commissioner for the gurdwara elections. Explaining the statement of Manjit Singh Akali Dal leader Col Jasmir Singh Bala said the Akal Takht jathedar had only reacted (9 reports in a section of the press that the RSS chief Mr. Rajindra Singh had issued secret instructions to the organizations to enroll Sehajdhans in the SGPC rolls Col Singh said though the Sahejdhari is could not be elected they could ensure the victory of candidates of their choice by mobilizing the Radha swam is Namdharis and other such sects.

The Rashtriya Sikh Sangat a front organization of the RSS was also active in the Sikh community. It was formed in the mid-80″s to Organize nationalist Sikhs against secessionist elements in the community. People like the former President Mr Zall Singh and Mr Justice R. S. Narula were its patrons.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 22, 1994