The new members of the Pakistan Singh Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee (PSGPC) have raised concerns among a section of Pakistani Sikhs and the Indian government. The Pakistan government has notified 13 PSGPC members, with three being official representatives, including the Chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, the Senior Joint Secretary or Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, and an Additional Secretary of Shrines. The remaining 10 members are Ramesh Singh Arora, Tara Singh, Gyan Singh Chawla, Sarwant Singh, Satwant Kaur, Harmeet Singh, Maheesh Singh, Bhagat Singh, Sahib Singh, and Dr. Mampal Singh. The Federal Government of Pakistan reconstituted the PSGPC in line with clause-3 of the "Scheme for Renovation, Maintenance, and Preservation of Sikh Holy Shrines, 2004," for a term of three years. According to the Pakistan-based newspaper Express Tribune, “An inaugural meeting of the committee is scheduled to take place in the coming days, during which the chairman and secretary positions will be elected. Sources indicate that Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, a minority member of the Punjab Assembly, is likely to assume the role of Chairman, while Sardar Tara Singh is expected to serve as the secretary.” Ramesh Singh is a Hindu converted to Sikh. Speaking to The Indian Express, an incumbent member of the PSGC body, which will become former after new members take charge, said, “We have strong objections to making those PSGMC members who are first-generation converted Sikhs.” Not only Ramesh Arora but also Tara Singh, Maheesh Singh, and Bhagat Singh are first-generation converted Sikhs. “The lobby of converted Sikhs has been taking over Sikh Gurudwaras. Last year, we filed a petition with the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Pakistan that there should be a ban on making the first generation of converted Sikhs members of PSGPC and giving them any charge of any other religious affairs,” said a PSGPC member. Earlier, local Sikhs were also uncomfortable after the Pakistan government appointed Ramesh Singh Arora, the Ambassador of Sri Darbar Sahib Sri Kartarpur Sahib. He has also been selected to receive the esteemed 'Sitara-e-Imtiaz' award in Pakistan. “Those who have been Sikhs since Guru Nanak Dev ji delivered the first sermon in Nankana Sahib have been pushed to the sideline. I have no problem with converted Sikhs. But they have just entered school, and how can they directly become principals? So the motive behind such appointments is suspicious. A humble converted Sikh would like to first learn and practice religion than directly taking the affairs of Sikh Gurudwaras in hand,” said a PSGPC member. The Indian government also has concerns related to Ramesh Singh Arora for different reasons. He is under the scanner of the Indian government as he is the brother-in-law of Manjit Singh Pinka, who is wanted by India for the hijacking of IC 405 from Srinagar to Lahore in 1984. Tara Singh was considered close to the self-styled chief of the banned outfits Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and International Sikh Youth Federation, Lakhbir Singh Rode, who died in Pakistan last year. Gian Singh Chawla is the brother of Gopal Singh Chawla, who was dropped from the PSGPC in July 2019 after the Indian government opposed his name. Gopal Singh Chawla is known for his anti-India stance. Indian government officials are considering Gian Singh Chawla as a proxy for Gopal Singh Chawla. Maheesh Singh was also accused of his proximity to Rode; however, he had denied such allegations. Dr. Mimpal Singh will receive the distinguished 'Tamgha-e-Imtiaz' honor. The awards are scheduled to be conferred during an official ceremony on March 23. Mimpal is also known for his anti-India views.
