US Sikhs reject offer of cooption by SGPC

An article by
Dharmendra Rataul in The Indian Express


Amritsar, November 28 The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s ambitious plan of incorporating 10 NRI Sikhs in its general house seems to have run into rough weather with the American diaspora rejecting it.

US NRIs are of the view that they cannot let themselves be subservient to the SGPC, but would bow their heads before the Akal Takht, so the religious body should take the proposal back.

Surprised at the move, American Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ASGPC) chief Dr Pritpal Singh told The Indian Express, “I appeal to the SGPC to take the proposal back as there are no takers for it. We will not be part of the SGPC. We have our own committee similar to the SGPC and we will not like any interference,” he said.

The SGPC— which had been pursuing the matter of co-option with the Union government that was in the process of issuing a notification — had passed a resolution in this regard at its general house meeting on November 23.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar had raised the issue at the meetings with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil, and they had promised to do the needful.

The SGPC, which was seeking a suitable amendment in the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, to pave way for co-option, said they would have members from the foreign countries on the basis of their population percentage and special focus would be on the USA, Canada, the UK and other European countries, where Sikhs are in a large numbers.

“The move is aimed at giving adequate representations to the Sikh diaspora,” said SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh.

Dr Pritpal, however, said, “The SGPC controls gurdwaras in north India and is running under an Act of the Indian government. How can that Act be applicable to American or Canadian citizens? We will oppose the move tooth and nail.”

He said they seek guidance from the Akal Takht and not the SGPC, which should work to better its administration of gurdwaras in India. If the SGPC’s proposal is accepted by the Centre, the number of the SGPC members will rise to 200 from the present 185, apart from the five high priests.

“The move is to widen the scope of the religious body, which is the only democratically elected body, controlling the largest number of gurdwaras. Dr Pritpal should stop commenting on the issue and do his own work while we are doing our,” said another SGPC official.

He added that only ‘sabat surat’ Sikhs (who do not shorn their hair) would be entitled to become the member.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Cooption-US-NRIs-opt-out/244744/