Jharkhand Sikhs oppose Maharashtra govt’s interference in Takhat Sri Hujur Sahib management

SUBHASH MISHRA

Dhanbad, February 8: The Sikh community of Jharkhand has opposed the state government’s interference in managing Takhat Sri Hujur Sahib in Abchalnagar Nanded, Maharashtra.

The Maharashtra government has amended the 1956 Act and formed a 17-member committee to manage Takhat Sri Hujur Sahib. The state government would nominate 12 members, Nanded Sikh would elect three, and the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) would select two.

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Earlier, the state government nominated only seven members to the committee, and now five members, a total of 12, have been increased. The SGPC also appointed four members, which have been reduced to two.

Jharkhand Sikh Welfare Society

The Jharkhand Sikh Welfare Society (JSWS) on Thursday shot off a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah urging them to take immediate steps to stop the state government’s intervention in Takhat Sri Hujur Sahib managing committee.

JSWS president Sardar Sewa Singh, in a memorandum, has said that the Maharashtra government’s action is an attack on the religious rights of Sikhs.

Takhat Sri Hujur Sahib Nanded

“Takhat Sri Hujur Sahib Nanded is one of the five most important places in Sikh history. Historical Nanded place was donated to Sikhs by Nizam of Hyderabad. A representative from Secundrabad was also nominated to a committee that was abolished. Now, the Maharashtra government will nominate its choice of president, general secretary and other office bearers. It is nothing but direct interference in management from which the Sikh community is hurt,” said Sardar Sewa Singh.