R S G P C Is Created In Rajasthan

[Azaad]

While vowing to remain accountable to Akal Takht, the newly formed Rajasthan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (RSGPC) resolved unanimously at its maiden meeting in Sriganganagar today to get the Gurdwara Act enacted in the state. Its religious agenda said Gurmat schools would be run to teach the granthis besides opening new Khalsa schools and colleges in Rajasthan. Participation of Dalit Sikhs in the management of gurdwaras will be ensured and efforts will be made to associate all gurdwara Singh Sabhas, Seva societies and NGOs.

Briefing the media after the meeting, the RSGPC members said developing a drugs-free state would not be a distant dream. The committee would launch a comprehensive awareness drive against the drug menace that haunts the state, female foeticide, dowry and obscenity in Punjabi cultural programmes. The Sikh community would be inspired to work for the preservation of the environment.

The economic agenda of the RSGPC includes efforts to restore the Hindumalkot-Karachi rail link to resume trade with the Arab and European countries through Pakistan. The Central and state government will be requested to offer special incentives for the development of border districts besides implementing the plan for setting up modernised sugar mills in Sriganganagar. The RSGPC will urge the state government to accord due recognition to the Punjabi language, set up a Punjabi academy chaired by a non-political personality, include the history of Sikhs in the syllabi for schools and colleges, renovate Gobind Ghat Pushkar and make arrangements for kar sewa of the historic Baba Budha Johad, native place of Sant Fateh Singh. The latter needs to be developed as a place of tourism also, the agenda added.

Unfolding the political agenda, the RSGPC said Parliament had no Sikh from Rajasthan for the past eight years. Besides the political parties would be urged to nominate Sikh candidates from Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Alwar, Kota and Boondi Lok Sabha constituencies during the next elections besides nominating a Sikh to the Rajya Sabha. Representation on the Minorities Commission, corporations and boards and appointment of a Sikh Governor for Rajasthan would also be sought. The RSGPC plans to work for getting the All- India Gurdwara and Anand Marriage Act enacted. Sehajdharis having faith and reverence for Sikhism will be persuaded to join the mainstream. The committee demanded that false cases against Sikh youths should be withdrawn. It urged the state government to allot land to SC/ST Sikhs near the Indira Gandhi Canal.

Notably the Sikh leaders resented that the SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar had not kept his word over setting up a Rajasthan Sikh mission and nothing had been done for the uplift of gurdwaras in Rajasthan. There is no provision for the election of SGPC members from Rajasthan even when the community has got a population exceeding seven lakh in west Rajasthan. The SGPC has been nominating only one member from the state. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had recently denounced the move to set up the RSGPC, terming it as a Congress ploy.

[Azaad]

The office-bearers named in the ad hoc committee of the RSGPC include Hardeep Singh Dibdiba as president, Tarlochan Singh Gajsinghpaur, Baba Mohan Singh Raipur Jhalawar, Baljinder Singh Morjand Hanumangarh, Jasbir Singh 9DD and Harjinder Singh Anoopgarh as vice-presidents, Surjit Singh Lakhian, Chamkaur Singh Gajsinghpur, Amarjit Singh Byana Bharatpur, Sukhwinder Singh Khajuwala Bikaner and Santokh Singh Patwari Srikaranpur as general secretaries, Asa Singh Sadulshehar, Baljinder Singh Mohanpura-Jaisalmer, Jarnail Singh Ambarpura-Bran, Jasvir Singh Jaipur and Gurjant Singh Dholipal-Hanumangarh as secretaries, Ranjodh Singh Sriganganagar as cashier and Preetpal Singh Anoopgarh as auditor. Tirlok Singh Suratgarh, Rajlakhbir Singh Sriganganagar, Harpal Singh Namdhari and Balvir Singh Nihang will be special invitees. Thirtyone members have been nominated to the working committee.

ON THE AGENDA

To remain accountable to Akal Takht

Ensure participation of Dalit Sikhs in the management of gurdwaras

Seek special incentives for the development of border districts

Urge political parties to nominate a Sikh to the Rajya Sabha

Seek the appointment of a Sikh Governor for Rajasthan

Develop a drugs-free state

[BhForce]

There's no reason to resent the creation of the Rajasthan GPC. After all, Rajastan was never covered by the Gurdwara Act in the first place.

The creation of the Haryana GPC, is, on the other hand, a Congress ploy to decrease the power of the SGPC. (Not to say that Badal is totally clean in the matter, either).

[maskinji]

I think This might a step in a direction to develop an institution in sikh kaum which could achieve something concrete unlike Badal's SGPC (No More SGPC, Family Business). SGPC holds no sanctity now. Earlier SGPC jathedar would be consulted for any matters pertaining to sikhs, but now Badal directs Jathedar what to speak and what not, Jathedar no more than a dummy item, a puppet. Shame for the kaum.

Most important on aganda of RSGPC is that they propose to give chance to Dalit sikhs in administration. I think this would bring back the charm of sikhism to non-sikhs. baaki waheguru ji kirpa karan, Kaum da hala hove, desh da bhala hove.