AMRITSAR: The SGPC has protested the reported move to amend the Nanded Gurudwara Act 1965 for inciting regional feelings.
The SGPC secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta said on Thursday that SGPC had received “alarming reports” that certain vested interests were inciting regional feelings and maneuvering to force the Maharashtra Government to amend this Act by confining its membership only to local Sikhs.
The Act provides for constitution of a21-member board for the management of the historic Sikh shrine of Sri Hazoor Sahib at Nanded in Maharashtra with membership of Sikhs from all over the country.
In a letter sent to the Maharashtra Government the secretary said any change in the prevalent strategy or amendment would result in suspicion and cause unnecessary trouble.
He said the letter suggested to the Maharashtra Government to seek approval from Sikh institutions all over the country and abroad and above all the representative body of the Sikhs SGPC before making any amendment.
Calcutta said that the holy shrine of Hazoor Sahib is one of the five seats of temporal and spiritual authority empowered to deliberate and issue commandments as and when required to the Sikhs all over the world. As such the management of Shri Hazoor Sahib is concern of Sikhs all over the world.
The original Act provides for the membership of four members each from Maharashwa region and the SGPC three members from the Decan Sikhs two members from Sikh members of Parliament one member each nominated from Sikh Sabha of Hyderabad Maharashtra Government chief Khalsa diwan the local deputy commissioner and from Madhya Pradesh Bombay Uttar Pradesh and Punjab States.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 20, 1991
