CLEVELAND, OH: In a clean sweep in the annual elections held here on May 25, 1986, Sikh Council of North America has been captured by persons holding important positions in the World Sikh Organization. With the exception of the old President-elect S. Harbhajan Singh Arjawat, who automatically took over as President, all other offices have gone to those actively involved in the present Sikh struggle for justice and freedom.

Jagjit Singh Mangat, President, Sikh Cultural Society, New York and a member of WSO Governing Council and S. Baldev ‘Singh, New York, another member of WSO Governing Council ‘were unanimously elected President-elect and General Secretary respectively. S. Gurcharan Singh Dhillon, Treasurer WSO. (International). was elected Vice-President (West). Others elected are Ms. Satwant Kaur Sidhu (Treasurer): S. Devinder Singh Sidhu (Vice-President East); Ms. Tejnder Kaur Gill (Vice-President South); and S, Swinder Singh Chohan (Vice-President Midwest).

‘After the elections the new Executive formally adopted a resolution pledging ‘to strive for Panthic cause in every way’. Through another resolution, the Executive decided to accept World Sikh Organization as the umbrella body and formulate all the political activities of the Council in conformity with WSO objectives. The Executive also decided to recognize and support World Sikh News as the representative Sikh voice of North ‘America.

 Congressman Carl Stokes had deputed his personal envoy to welcome the guests. In a message read out by the envoy, Mr. Stokes said, “if liberty of one individual is not respected, then, liberty of everyone is threatened’. Besides, Mr. Stokes’ envoy, the mayor of Bedford Heights welcomed the guests and thanked the Sikh community ant the out-going President, Mr. Balbir Singh Bassi for the support.

Besides others, Brig. Iqbal Singh: and Giani Gurdit Singh was the main speakers. Brig Iqbal Singh highlighted the unique features of Sikhism-its rejection of rituals and emphasis. On brotherhood of Man, Service of fellow beings and the institution of free kitchen. Giani Gurdit Singh explained the significance of Gurmata and the history of Singh Sabha.

Dr. Gurdas Singh Das criticized the out-going Committee’s action of going to the Indian Consulate to applaud the Punjab accord. Mr. Bassi reportedly expressed his regrets over this lapse on his part.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 30, 1986