File photo of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal
Akal Takth, the highest Sikh religious body intervened today in the growing row over parallel gurdwara management bodies in Punjab and Haryana even as the SGPC President called on the centre to intervene in the manner.
In a bid to deescalate rising tension, the Akal Takht directed that the planned Sikh congregations by ruling Akali Dal in Amritsar and in Karnal tomorrow against the Haryana government's move to create a separate gurudwara management committee in the state be called off.
Jathedar Akal Takht Gyani Gurbachan Singh issued a directive to Sikhs of Haryana, ruling SAD (Badal) and the entire Sikh community not to hold any kind of rally or convention tomorrow in Amritsar and in Karnal.
At a hurriedly called press conference in Amritsar, the Jathedar said that in the light of the prevailing circumstances, nobody could be allowed to hold convention or rally anywhere in Punjab and Haryana as it may deepen the crisis in the Sikh circle.
Keeping in the view the violence in Saharanpur in UP, everybody should focus attention on easing the situation there, he said.
A SGPC team led by President Avtar Singh Makkar has been directed to reach Saharanpur to ease the situation, said the Jathedar.
Talking about the separate Haryana Gurdwara Management Committee, the Jathedar said both the parties (Sikh leaders from Haryana and Akali leaders from Punjab) would be asked to come to Akal Takht to find a solution to the current problem which arose after formation of a separate Gurdwara Committee in Haryana.
Sunday's meet in Amritsar was called after the Haryana government refused to pay heed to the Centre's missive to revoke the law passed for the creation of a separate SGPC for the state, which Punjab has termed "unconstitutional" and "illegal".
"Haryana has acted unconstitutionally, Centre must intervene", the SGPC chief told NDTV.
Haryana has brushed aside the Centre's directive calling for the annulment of the Act, saying it has every right to enact a law and the Haryana Gurdwara Act has been passed under its legislative powers. It has instead asked the Centre to withdraw its letter.
Meanwhile Haryana's Governor-designate Kaptan Singh Solanki today said the Centre's directive against it "must be obeyed", even though he said it was his personal opinion. (Read More)