The Sehajdhari Sikh party condemns the move of the Union Cabinet for giving approval to Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 proposed amendment debarring the Sehajdhari Sikh Voting rights in SGPC elections. Dr.P S Ranu National President of the Sehajdhari Sikh Party said that Cabinets nod is of no legal value as it is not a legislation, its just a similar executive attempt as done in 2003 which was quashed by the Full Bench of Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2011.The cabinets approval has to be sent to President of India and then legislated in the Parliament via both houses and is a long procedure and this action of the Govt. has proved that it was wrong in its past.
Dr.Ranu said that the SAD-BJP Govt. in Punjab has totally collapsed on all socio-religious fronts and after the Sarbat Khalsa they are bent upon to stoop for regaining their lost report in the masses which is a difficult job now. This attempt of amendment has been done at the time when the water of SYL Canal is a burning issue in Punjab and they are playing cards to divert the attentions of the Public from the main issue of unemployment, drug addiction, poverty, land-sand mafia and other panthic issues. This attempt by the NDA in pendency of a sub-judiced matter is an attempt of giving a backdoor entry to the SAD against the spirit of law and justice and disrespect to the legal system of the Country which will disintegrate a minority. This exercise by the SAD is only to keep control over cash rich Gurdwaras where they siphon off the money of the Sangat for their political motives and misuse the funds during elections. Religion and community is of least importance to them said Dr.Ranu The move has exposed the real fascist agenda of BJP which is bent upon dividing the Minorities for their vested interests.
Dr.Ranu emphasized that 70 lakh Sikhs will be thrown out of the electoral rolls in SGPC elections based upon the census report 2011. He clarified that as per census 2011 there were 1.75 Cr Sikhs in Punjab and only 55 lakh were enrolled as Sikh voters in SGPC elections in 2011. If deducting 50 lakh as minors and the balance 70 lakh Sikhs are recognized as Sikh by the Union Home Ministry’s Census report but the SGPC doesn’t recognize them as Sikhs. This majority of chunk in the minority are born in Sikh families but are not baptized or non keshdharis.As on fact the Sehajdhari Sikhs were continuously exercising their voting rights in the SGPC elections since 1944 but in 2003 the then Union Home Ministry debarred the Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting by amending the Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925 vide a notification dated 08.10.2003. The said notification was challenged in the court by the Sehajdhari Sikh Federation and the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the notification on 20.12.2011.
The SGPC appealed in the Supreme Court which is pending adjudication. Mean while the Hon’ble Court has made an interim arrangement for running the affairs of the SGPC by appointing its Executive Committee as care taker on an agreed order of all the parties concerned including the State Govt. and SGPC.The SAD (Badal) who is the main largest party in the SGPC has been enjoying the majority but the last SGPC elections held in 2011 were made defunct by the Court as it was challenged well before the verdict of the Sehajdhari voting issue. Now with a malafide intention and apprehending defeat in light of the coming vidhan sabha elections in 2017 the SAD is trying to make a back door entry.