Jamshedpur: Issue of Takht Shri Harmandir Sahib Patna echoes in Jharkhand Assembly

MLA Saryu Roy demands intervention   

Jamshedpur, Aug 2: The issue of Jharkhand’s participation in the Patna-based Shri Harmandir Management Committee, the second-largest religious throne of Sikhs and the birthplace of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, has been raised by Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. Roy, Patron of the Bharatiya Jan Morcha Party and MLA from Jamshedpur East, raised concerns on behalf of the Sikh community in Jharkhand during the zero hour on Wednesday.

He urged the Jharkhand government to secure the state’s position in the 15-member committee and requested the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to take necessary actions in this regard.

According to the MLA, the Takht Harmandir Ji in Patna Saheb, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, is managed by a 15-member committee, governed by the Constitution established in 1955. This committee includes representatives from North and South Bihar, as well as from Amritsar, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Delhi. Since Jharkhand was formed after the reorganization of Bihar, it was previously represented together with South Bihar in the committee for the management of Takht Harmandir Sahib.

However, concerns have arisen over an alleged conspiracy to separate Jharkhand from the representation of South Bihar, requiring an amendment to the constitution of the Takht Harmandir Committee. Jharkhand is home to approximately 120 Gurudwaras, while South Bihar has only 15. The Sikh community in Jharkhand fears being deprived of representation in the committee, especially when other significant Sikh representatives from different regions are part of it.

In response to MLA Saryu Roy ‘s question in the assembly, Bhagwan Singh, head of the Central Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee of Kolhan, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Sikh community in Jharkhand. He hopes that the Jharkhand government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will take appropriate steps to ensure continued representation.

Various Sikh organizations and leaders, including Kulwinder Singh Pannu, Kulwinder Singh, Gurdeep Singh Pappu, Satvir Singh Somu, and Gurvinder Singh Sethi, have expressed gratitude to MLA Saryu Roy  and BJP leader Kulwinder Singh Pannu for Roy sing the issue. They have reached out to Home Minister Amit Shah, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, urging them to maintain the status quo in accordance with the provisions of the Bihar State Reorganization Commission.

In light of the ongoing efforts to separate Jharkhand from the South Bihar constituency, the Sikh community remains hopeful that their representation in the Takht Harmandir Ji Management Committee will be preserved, ensuring that their voices are heard and respected.