CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections scheduled for October 13 has heightened political activity here, much before the Vidhan Sabha polls, scheduled for February next year. Akalis view the SGPC elections as a run-up to the next elections, which they hope would enable them to snatch power from the Congress. The Akalis have already started their campaigning for the Assembly elections along with the SGPC elections. The only thing standing in their way is the division in their ranks. With the factions battling each other to gain control of the SGPC election is promising to be more colorful than the last parliamentary elections, held under the watchful eye of Mr. T.N.Seshan. Held after nearly two decades, the last being 1979, for the SGPC elections the Akali Dal (Badal) is trying hard to fend off many newly emerged Akali factions to gain control of the Sikh body. Known as a mini Parliament of the Sikhs, the SGPC administers almost all historical Sikh shrines in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Chandigarh under the Gurdwara Act of 1925. It is the first institution to manage shrines. Having considerable influence over Sikhs all over the world, the SGPC has become very powerful. It is directly responsible for enforcing “Rehit Maryada” (code of conduct) in institutions like the Golden Temple, the Akal Takht, and Takht Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib where the Khalsa panth was ordained by tenth Guru Gobind Singh. Etc. Its influence among the Sikh masses has led to a saying that without control on the SGPC any Akali Dal is “Khali Dal” (empty party). The Sikh clergy, including the granthis and head granthis of Gurdwaras and the Jathedar of the Akal Takht the supreme spiritual and religious seat of the Sikhs, is appointed by the SGPC. These SGPC elections have jolted the Congress which is the only” party not participating in these elections, even though some Congressmen are supporting some candidates. Though, traditionally the SGPC elections are contested by the Akali Dal this time the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which had emerged as the largest opposition party in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and was till recently an ally of the Akali Dal (Badal). These SGPC elections would see election of 170 representatives from 120 constituencies spread over Punjab, Haryana, Hinachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 9, 1996
