Tohra camp takes charge of Delhi gurdwara committee

NEW DELHI, MAY 13: Paramjit Singh Sarna today took complete charge of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DGGMC), a day after ...

NEW DELHI, MAY 13: Paramjit Singh Sarna today took complete charge of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DGGMC), a day after he was elected president of the DSGMC, following scuffles between supporters of the factions led by Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Parkash Singh Badal.

Saran told UNI today that they have intimated the banks and other institutions under DSGMC control, about the new management of Delhi’s top gurudwara body.

The new committee held its meeting in the office of the DSGMC located at Gurudwara Rakab Ganj and discussed the constitution of the new committees of various educational and medical institutions being run by the DSGMC.

With the installation of Sarna — a Tohra loyalist — as the DSGMC president, the Akali Dal faction, led by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, has suffered a big jolt in the Capital. Sarna claimed that out of the total strength of 49 members in the executive committee of DSGMC, his group had the support of 26.

Sarna said that it was amatter of regret that the Akali Dal, which believed in democracy, could indulge in violence when it realised that their camp had been reduced to a minority, following three of their members shifting loyalty to Gurcharan Singh Tohra’s group.

He also alleged that one of the members had put a revolver on his temple and a complaint had been lodged with the police, which he said was yet to take any action. When asked about the presence of police at the DSGMC office, Sarna said police presence was requested to ensure that the rival camp did not indulge in violence again.

He said that the president’s room, which had been locked by the outgoing president yesterday, was expected to be opened this evening. “We have informed the police to withdraw from tomorrow onwards (sic). In case they again enter the premises, their presence would be considered an interference in religious matters and places of worship.”

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But, on other hand, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Secretary General Sukhdev Singh Dhinsa, who is camping inthe Capital for the past several days to co-ordinate the activities of the pro-Badal DSGMC members, said no election had been held to the DSGMC executive board yesterday. The incumbent president, Jaswant Singh Sethi, adjourned the DSGMC general body meeting which witnessed violence between the supporters of the two factions. Sethi would announce a fresh date for the election within a day or two, Dhinsa said.

Dhinsa accused the rival group of taking support of the Congress, vehemently denied by Sarna, who said that the facts would speak for themselves. The sole Congress member in the DSGMC house has been siding with the pro-Badal group, led by Avtar Singh Hitt, he said.