SGPC polls: Sikh groups cry hoarse over voter form

The membership form has been released by the Sikh Gurdwara Election Commission to enlist voters for the SGPC elections.

The first dissenting voice was of former SGPC secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta who termed the form “erroneous,incomplete and violative of basic Sikh religious tenets”. He said a ‘Sikh’,according to the Sikh religious code of conduct (Maryada),and Clauses 9 and 10 of Section 2 of the Sikh Gurdwara Act-1925,is one who faithfully believes in one immortal God,ten Gurus from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh and owe allegiance to Guru Granth Sahib.

“The grave error is the omission of this qualifying condition in the form,” said Calcutta,adding that the disqualification,as mentioned in Para C of the form,was incomplete as it mentioned only smoking as criterion for disqualification. “Tobacco is taken in many forms — like in gutka,paan masala,zarda and other such things. The stipulation,in accordance with Sikh codes,should not be confined to smoking only,but anybody taking tobacco in any form is a ‘patit’,” he said.

Calcutta has the support of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee head Paramjit Singh Sarna,besides Dal Khalsa,Shiromani Panthic Council (SPC) and the Khalsa Action Committee (KAC). Many leaders have said the form is no provision for an affidavit swearing that the information given by the voter is true,while the signature and stamp of the officer accepting the forms are also missing.

Though Chief Gurdwara Election Commissioner Justice H S Brar (Retd) has said only Sikhs with surnames ‘Singh’ for men and ‘Kaur’ for women would be entitled to vote,the column stipulating it is also missing from the voter form.

“Any enumeration on the basis of caste is taboo in the Sikh Panth. The right of the weaker and backward sections is protected completely under the Sikh Gurdwara Act by a provision of reserved seats,” said Calcutta,adding that the form had separate declaration from the Scheduled Caste and OBC voters,which was against the Sikh tenets.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar,however,termed the allegations and criticism an “attempt by Calcutta and his coterie to divert attention”. “The form was published in 1996,during Calcutta’s tenure as secretary. He not only approved this form but also got it printed. Why he is making a hue and cry now?” Makkar asked,adding that unnecessary controversies were being raked up but voters were wise enough to understand the “designs of these leaders”.

In Ludhiana,Punjab president of SAD (Delhi) Jaswinder Singh Baliawal held a press conference on Wednesday and condemned SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar’s statement that the voter forms were in accordance with the Gurdwara Act. He said Makkar had no right to give statement on the voter form as it was the right of the gurdwara election commissioner.

Registration of voters begins in Himachal

SHIMLA: The process for preparation of electoral rolls for the SGPC elections has started in Himachal Pradesh. The state has only one seat,Shimla — spread across eight districts — in the 197-seat SGPC House. Chief Election Commissioner of Gurdwara Elections H S Brar said on Wednesday the registration process would be wound up by July 15. “Only Keshdhari Sikhs,who have attained the age of 21 years,can register themselves. In Panchayats,the registration officer is the patwari concerned and in municipalities,the deputy commissioner can appoint any officer as the registration officer,with whom the forms will be available,” Brar told the media. The election date will be announced after the final electoral rolls are published on Novemebr 9. “The voters of Sirmaur district,including Paonta Sahib,Nahan and Baru Sahib,are included in the Punjab constituency,” said R N Batta,Commissioner,Gurdwara Elections,Himachal Pradesh.