AMRITSAR, Oct 28: A separate personal law for Sikhs was not in the interest of Sikh women and its demand by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Sikh high priest Bhai Ranjit Singh was reactionary and contrary to the teachings of Sikh gurus, said Vimla Dang, former MLA and patron of Punjab Istri Sabha.In a press statement issued here today, she said the demand indicates denial of equal rights to Sikh women in paternal property which otherwise was granted to them by the Hindu Succession Act of 1956.She said Bhai Ranjit Singh even justified to give dowry to women at a time when women's organisations all over India were struggling to end its practice. She said such demands have also been made in the past, but were firmly turn down by the government.Dang appealed to all women organisations to strongly oppose the demand of a separate Sikh personal law.
