Ravinder along with former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Balwant Singh Nandgarh talking to media persons at Bathinda on May 28,2017
Ravi Inder Singh To Mobilise Non-SAD Factions To Set Free SGPC From SAD
Amrit Pal Singh Brar
Bathinda: 28 May, 2017: The next general house elections of SGPC may witness a tough political battle between the SAD led by Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Sikh organisations and non-SAD factions led by Akhand Akali Dal 1920. The Akhand Akali Dal 1920 is headed by an influential leader & former Punjab Assembly Speaker Ravi Iinder Singh. Two times Speaker Ravinder Singh talking to media persons in Bahtinda today, indicated to form a broad front of all non-SAD Panthak organisations and groups. In the changed political scenario of the state, this being considered as politico-religious move to bring around all these Panthic bodies at one platform to corner the SAD led by Badals.
Ravi Inder Singh was accompanied by former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh and other Akali leaders of the area. Many Akali leaders of the neighboring districts of Mansa and Sangrur were present on the lawns of press club. Ravi Inder Singh met many of his old friend’s en-route from Chandigarh to Bathinda. He also attended a social function here.
Ravi Inder Singh said “I congratulate the people of Punjab for throwing out Parkash Singh Badal from the political scenario of the state and putting him on third place”. It is their judicious and sensible mandate, but much more is needed to completely push him out of the state politics and for this purpose, SGPC is needed to be freed from him said Former Speaker.
“Our next mission is to free SGPC from his clutches” said Ravinder Singh, while replying to queries from media persons. “I call on all the Sikh organisations, political & religious bodies to join hands to free the SGPC from the control of Badal & company”. He accused Badals for denigrating the status of this supreme religious body. The funds of the SGPC are being misused for personal gains, alleged Ravinder Singh.
On being asked if he would also seek support from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in this move, Former Speaker said “Everybody is welcome join this platform. There is no bar on anybody, only thing required is a clear & committed political will to throw out Badals, even Congress will be welcomed,"
The SGPC elections were last held on September 18, 2011. Out of total , in which 170 seats, SAD-Sant Samaj alliance got 157 . However, the new body could not take charge as the High Court quashed the 2003 notification in December 2011.
The Gurdwara Act was amended on October 8, 2003, denying voting rights to Sehajdharis. Sehajdharis moved the high court against the amendment.
The body constituted earlier (in 2010) was managing the SGPC affairs till September 2016, when the Supreme Court announced a verdict denying voting rights to Sehajdharis and reinstating the SGPC body elected in 2011, but the Court did not specify the tenure of the house.
The SGPC body is elected for five years. Keeping in view this opinion, if the 2011 body is held validated, then its term is already expired in December 2016. The state government can write to central government seeking elections to the SGPC.