Haryana assembly passes bill for separate SGPC
12 July 2014 12:12 AM GMT
Haryana assembly on Friday passed a bill paving the way for the formation of a separate body to manage affairs of gurdwaras in the state even as the main opposition parties INLD and the BJP staged a walkout over the issue.
The bill moved by Parliamentary Affairs minister Randeep Surjewala was passed with a voice vote in the absence of the Indian National Lok Dal and BJP members, who had earlier staged a walkout opposing the legislation, claiming that the move was Congress’ ‘conspiracy’ to ‘divide’ the community.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government in Haryana passed the bill ignoring the stiff opposition of the Amritsar- based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the Shiromani Akali Dal and other groups.
Congress had promised the formation of separate SGPC in its poll manifesto in 2005, but the issue remained unsettled in its first term and got carried over to Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s second term.
But with assembly elections due in Haryana in October this year, the issue was speeded up.
Hooda, Surjewala and other treasury benches members described the bill as ‘historic’ one which was long overdue as the Sikhs of Haryana had been ‘fighting’ to have right over management of their Gurdwaras.
Heated arguments erupted between the ruling and opposition benches during the discussion on the Bill with the latter dubbing it as a ‘ploy’ to garner votes ahead of the polls.
The bill moved by Parliamentary Affairs minister Randeep Surjewala was passed with a voice vote in the absence of the Indian National Lok Dal and BJP members, who had earlier staged a walkout opposing the legislation, claiming that the move was Congress’ ‘conspiracy’ to ‘divide’ the community.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government in Haryana passed the bill ignoring the stiff opposition of the Amritsar- based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the Shiromani Akali Dal and other groups.
Congress had promised the formation of separate SGPC in its poll manifesto in 2005, but the issue remained unsettled in its first term and got carried over to Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s second term.
But with assembly elections due in Haryana in October this year, the issue was speeded up.
Hooda, Surjewala and other treasury benches members described the bill as ‘historic’ one which was long overdue as the Sikhs of Haryana had been ‘fighting’ to have right over management of their Gurdwaras.
Heated arguments erupted between the ruling and opposition benches during the discussion on the Bill with the latter dubbing it as a ‘ploy’ to garner votes ahead of the polls.
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