Haryana: Separate Gurdwara panel plank may help Congress

Despite a vociferous protest from Punjab and resistance from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the government put its foot down and tabled the Bill. However, an attempt by the newly formed HGMC to gain control of a leading gurdwara failed and with the Assembly polls in offing, the government too decided to go slow.

Given that Sikhs constitute 4 per cent of voters in Haryana, Hooda’s anxiety was obvious when justifying a separate committee and its timing. “We committed a mistake by not providing a separate committee and don’t want to repeat it,” he said.

After combining with Punjabis, given their inter-religion relations and strength of deras, the Sikhs become a formidable force. Aware of the risk involved, the INLD, BJP and other parties have also been measured in their response. “We are not opposed to a separate committee but are opposed to the manner the government bullied over into it. The government has no reason to poke into the affairs of the Sikhs,” said Ashok Arora, state unit chief of the INLD.

Another reason for this stand is INLD chief and former CM Om Prakash Chautala’s friendship with Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal. It is no secret that the Badals control the Amitsar-based Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), which has had control of Haryana gurdwaras so far.

“We were committed to provide the state’s Sikhs their right and we did it. People will respond while using power of their vote,” said the state’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The Congress seems to be the immediate beneficiary of the creation of HGMC. Jagdish Singh Jhinda, who led the campaign for a separate committee, said the Sikhs would support the Congress. “Hooda has done a great service to the community… and it is our time to respond to the gesture,” Jhinda said.

However, it may not be sufficient to turn the tide in favour of Congress. Harmohinder Singh Chatha, who headed the one-man panel to know about people’s wishes from HGMC, hardly finds support in his constituency. “How does it benefit me? The government wanted to oblige a set of people. If it is not the Amritsar committee, then it would be a handful of Haryana leaders’ committee,” Kamal Singh, a student, told The Indian Express, which travelled to Sikh-dominated areas of the state in Ambala, Kurukshetra and Sirsa. Despite the fact that Chatha remained in the cabinet during both his terms, people of his constituency say they felt betrayed. “He was hardly bothered about us. Even now, all he is worried about is how to get a party ticket for his son,” one Ram Singh said.

Voters also understand the intention behind bringing up the HGMC issue at a time like this. “The Hooda government was there for the last 10 years. It was their first poll promise but no effort was made by the government and it was introduced at a time when the government was on its last leg,” said Karam Singh of Sadhaura.