Harsimrat K Badal appeals to Mahrashtra CM to retain the autonomous character of the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Board.

Harsimrat K Badal appeals to Mahrashtra CM to retain the autonomous character of the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Board.

(Writes to CM, urges him to withdraw the new draft law seeking to fill the Board with govt nominees against the sentiments of the Sikh community)

Chandigarh 26 June ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today appealed to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to retain the autonomous character of the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Board and withdraw the draft law which seeks to fill the Board with government nominees against the sentiments of the Sikh community. In a letter to the chief minister, the Bathinda MP said the Sikh community was anguished that widespread changes were being made to change the character of the Takht Board on the recommendations of a State-appointed committee without taking into account the sentiments of the Sikh community, its premier institution – the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) or the Hazuri Sachkhand Diwan. She said as no prior consultations had been held with the Sikh bodies, there was a growing impression that this move was an attempt to end the autonomy enjoyed by the Board. “Sikhs worldwide also perceive this as an attempt to take complete control of the shrine to the detriment of the community”, Harsimrat Badal told the chief minister.

Badal saide there was unanimity in the community that any decision affecting the ‘maryada’ (code of conduct), management and religious autonomy of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib should not be taken unilaterally. She said earlier in February 2024 the Maharashtra government had amended the Act governing the shrine by giving the go ahead to nominate 12 out of 17 members of the Board through direct nomination by the government. “The representation of the SGPC was reduced and that of the Chief Khalsa Diwan and Hazuri Sachkhand Diwan was abolished altogether. Though this amendment was taken back after massive protests by the SGPC and local Sikh organizations, the government seems to have decided to bring similar changes in the structure of the Board in the new Act”.

Appealing to the chief minister to allow the Sikh community to manage its affairs as per tradition, Badal informed that the management of the Takht had also issued a ‘gurmata’ (collective edict) against the Maharashtra government’s decision to repeal the old Act. “Accordingly the old Act should be allowed to remain in force by withdrawing the new draft law. This will serve to diffuse the tension which has risen in the Sikh community which feels the Maharashtra government should desist from interfering in their religious affairs”, Badal added.

Requesting the chief minister to take up the issue for resolution at the earliest, Badal said the seven decade old Act - The Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Act, 1956 allowed the Sikh community complete autonomy in managing the religious shrine associated with Guru Gobind Singh ji. “The new proposed Act, which is slated to be taken up for approval by the State assembly in its forthcoming session, seeks to take away this autonomy and replace it with government control. This is being done against the sentiments of the Sikh community and should be reviewed”, Badal added.