Sikhs will never tolerate interference in their religious affairs by Delhi run parties: Sukhbir Badal

Ferozepur, February 9, 2024: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that Delhi run parties were not only interfering in the religious affairs of the Sikh community but were also taking over Sikh religious shrines which the "quom" would never tolerate.

Leading the party’s Punjab Bachao Yatra which entered the Malwa region today,  Sukhbir said  that the “Sikhs” had earlier witnessed how the Shiromani Committee was broken to create a separate gurdwara committee for Haryana. “The Delhi gurdwara committee, which comprises majority of members of the SAD, has also been taken over by vested interests to the detriment interest of the community. Now in another blow to the community, the Maharashtra government has taken over control of the Sri Hazur Sahib Management board by increasing the strength of the nominated members from two to twelve”, said Sukhbir.

Asking the people whether the Maharashtra government would tell the Sikh community how to run their gurdwaras, Sukhbir said  that the decision to reconstitute the Sri Hazur Sahib management board by amending the management board Act of 1956 is condemnable and will never be accepted by the Sikh community.

Stating that all this had happened only after the SAD had been weakened politically. Badal said that now the “quom” is facing the repercussions with even our "gurughar" being attacked”. Appealing to the people to strengthen the SAD which had always fought for them, Badal said  that if the SAD does not return to power, no one will be able to save Punjab.

Badal also urged the people not to be misled by several ‘gaddar’ of the community who were masquerading as Sikh leaders but working to weaken Sikh institutions. “The community has paid a heavy price at the hands of such leaders. It is high time the Sangat realizes their true intent and shuns them”.

Urging Punjabis not to waste any more time, the SAD president said that seven years have already been wasted.

Badal also interacted with teachers and staff of Adarsh Schools which were established by former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. The staff, which has been protesting since the last 82 days against denial of funds and facilities to the schools, told the SAD president that the chief minister had called them to Chandigarh for meetings but had later refused to meet them.  Sukhbir, while interacting with the teachers said the Adarsh School scheme, which were aimed at providing quality education free of cost to meritorious students was ahead of its time had received accolades world over. “It is condemnable that these schools are being denied funds”, he said adding “we will develop the schools to the next level once the SAD forms the government”.

Senior Akali leaders including Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Rohit Montu Vohra and Joginder Singh Jindu, Vardev Singh Noni Mann also accompanied the SAD president.