PATIALA: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Gurcharam Singh Tohra, said here last week, that he would not contest the February election to the General House of SGPC.

This was stated by Tohra while talking to media persons here last. Week. He was here to attend the function organized to honor him for having been elected the SGPC president for the record 21st time.

Three States including Punjab have given declaration in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to hold the SGPC General House elections within one year from February 20, 1994, which falls on February 20, 1995. The Punjab Government has already announced the Election Commission for holding the February elections.

Tohra made this announcement to question that whether he would seek reelection from the Chanarthal constituency from where he was elected to the General House in 1979. Since then, he is continuing as president of the SGPC, with the exception of one year, when Baldev Singh Sibia made it to the SGPC as Tohra was not in the contest.

In view of the commitment given to the court by the Punjab Government, Tohra expressed confidence that the elections to SGPC General House would be held on Feb.20, 1995.

Besides Tohra, all the 65 pro Tohra SGPC General House members who voted him to victory were also honored at the function by presenting each of them with a siropa. Prominent members who were honored included Darshan Singh Issapur, general secretary, Dalip Singh, vice-president and Bhajan Singh, junior vice-president, While paying complements to Tohra for starting a medical college, a dental college, an engineering college and a large number of arts colleges Prof. Balbir Singh Nanda, a former president of the Punjabi University Teachers Association said that opening of such a large number of educational institutions for the rural students was possible because of the former’s endeavors. ‘The Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC) president, Manjit Singh Calcutta, who was also present on the occasion, said that Tohra’s election to this office for the 21st time showed his polarity with the Sikh masses.

Giani Kartar Singh Takkar, presi dent of the Haryana Akali Dal said that Jathedar Tohra had done a great service to the Sikh religions ‘The honor was arranged by various organizations of traders, rice shelters, Sikh intellectual forum, Punjabi University teachers, Akhand Kirtani jatha, and meme bers of the various bar associations. The former senior vice-president of Akali Dal and a veteran Sikh leader, Jathedar Surjan Singh Thekedar presented him a siropa and replica of Golden Temple.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 16, 1994