Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced that the process of preparing the electoral rolls for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) polls will start from October 21st.
Mann’s announcement came almost four months after Gurdwara Elections Chief Commissioner Justice S S Saron on May 25 wrote a letter to the chief secretary, asking the government to prepare the electoral rolls.Justice Saron had said the process is getting delayed and all deputy commissioners should prepare the list as soon as possible.
The Chief Minister said that it will pave way for holding of the elections thereby ensuring that democratically elected SGPC takes over the reign of Sikh affairs. He said that it is unfortunate that an interim body with a provisional President is running the affairs of the body. He added that the state government will ensure that the elections for the premier Sikh body is held soon.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that it is unfortunate that the premier organisation for Sikhs has now became a puppet in the hands of its masters. He said that unfortunately the decisions of this Apex body is pre- scripted by the Akali leadership.
Mann further said that the modern day masands need to be ousted for which free and fair elections are must. The Chief Minister added that all the decisions are dictated, decided and delivered by the Badal family and it is unfortunate that the personal interests of those at the helm of affairs in SGPC are harming the interests of sangat bereft. The wise people will never forgive these culprits for this sin against humanity, he added.
