NEW YORK: S. Jagjit Singh Mangat and S. Baldev Singh were reelected President and General Secretary of the Sikh Cultural Society, New York, at the General Body meeting of the Society held at the Richmond Hill Gurdwara on August 16, 1987. Others elected are S. Ravinder Singh Bhamra Vice-president; S. Manjit Singh Shukla Treasurer; S. Devinder Singh Saini Assistant Treasurer; and S. Sham Singh Blah Langar In charge. S. Gurcharan Singh and S. Balbir Singh Tur were elected as members of the Executive.

All other office-bearers were elected unopposed. There was contest only for the office of the Secretary General where the incumbent S. Baldev Singh was challenged by Dr. (Mrs.) Kuldip Kaur. S. Baldev Singh, however, decisively defeated her in a straight contest. Out of nearly four hundred votes cast, she could secure only 34 votes. Her candidature was reportedly sponsored at a meeting held at her residence and attended , among others, by S. Tejinder. Singh Kahlon and S.

Jagtar Singh Sandhu. The election had generated considerable interest as it virtually turned out to be a fight between Khalistani and non Khalistani forces. Analysts feel that contesting against a W.S.O. National Council Member with the support of elements inimical to W:S.O. has made her husband Dr. Naunihal Singh’s position as Director Administration quite untenable. It will be difficult for him to rationalize her action before W.S.O. members, they say.

Six trustees were also elected to fill the vacancies under the rotation system. The new trustees are S. Pargat Singh Matharu, S. Harbhajan Singh Gill, S. Jatinder singh Sabharwarl, S. Devinder Singh Saini, S. Jit Singh Sahansra and S. Nanak Masand.

Action was taken against S. Jagtar Singh Sandhu for attending the Sikh Council of North America’s meetings in violation of the Society’s resolution which debarred the trustees from associating with the Sikh Council of North America and to which Mr. Sandhu himself was a signatory. Consequently he was removed from the trusteeship.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 21, 1987