Centre’s letter on SGPC threat to federal structure: Haryana

Taking an offence to Centre’s intervention in the matter of separate Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government has said that the letter of the Union home secretary was an affront to the federal structure and parliamentary democracy of the country.

Alleging that the Punjab government, headed by Parkash Singh Badal, was trying to spoil the law and order of the state, the Haryana government has urged the Centre to obtain a report from governors of the two states and its own agencies, to avert the situation where peace in the state is disturbed at the behest of the Badals. The state government has asked the Central government to withdraw the letter and to issue directions to the Punjab government not to interfere into the affairs of Haryana.

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Launching a scathing attack on behalf of the Chief Minister, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala in his letter subtly attacked Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, asking him not to colour his judgment on the issue. “You (Rajnath) have years of experience in political and administrative field, both as UP CM and as Union Minister. Political stand of either the Akali Dal (Badal) or any other political party/organisation should never colour the judgment of the Union government in being able to decide the issue within the four corners of constitutional and legal framework,” said Surjewala.

He also challenged the Badals’ interference in the state and demanded immediate corrective measures terming it alarming.