Sikhs from Jharkhand-Bihar seek participation in SGPC

Jamshedpur: The call for equitable representation echoes through the Sikh community in Jharkhand and Bihar as advocate Kulwinder Singh from Jamshedpur advocates for the inclusion of Sikhs from these states in the prestigious Sikh Parliament, Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee (SGPC), Amritsar. During the visit of SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal to Ranchi, Kulwinder Singh passionately argued that representation from Sikhs across the nation is not only fair but also logical.

The advocate pressed for the removal of the requirement for individuals to be members of Akali Dal to participate, emphasizing that dedication to the sect should be the determining factor. Gurcharan Singh Grewal defended SGPC’s role as the representative body for Sikhs worldwide, prompting Kulwinder Singh to insist on giving it a national character.

Kulwinder Singh questioned why organizations like Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee, Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee, and Amritsar’s Chief Khalsa Diwan, represented in Guru Gobind Singh’s birthplace Takht Shri HariMandir Ji Patna Sahib Management Committee, should not also represent Bihar and Jharkhand.

Proposing a constitutional amendment, Kulwinder Singh suggested nominating 15 members from different states outside Punjab, where Sikhs are present. He raised concerns about the current practice of nominating members predominantly from one or two states.

General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal assured that efforts would be made to address this concern in the future, aiming for a more uniform representation of Sikhs across the country. Former Vice Chairman of the State Minority Commission Gurvinder Singh Sethi and Surendra Pal Singh Kalra of Bokaro stressed the need for developing a mechanism that ensures fair representation.

Sardar Gurvinder Singh Sethi expressed optimism, stating that the question of which person from Jharkhand is nominated for SGPC will not arise, but it is a collective prayer to Waheguru that they should be represented.

The meeting held at Ranchi Main Road Gurdwara witnessed the presence of various Sikh leaders, including General Secretary of Takht Shri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib Sardar Inderjit Singh and Sardar Jagmohan Singh of Kolkata. The collective plea for broader representation signifies the aspiration of Sikhs in Jharkhand and Bihar to be inclusively recognized within the SGPC.