The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) today got shot in the arm as the DSGMC Employee Welfare Association today announced to support the party candidates in Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) polls. Harjinder Singh, President DSGMC Employee Welfare Association and Iqbal Singh, General Secretary of the association along with 1500 association members declared to vote and support the SAD (B) candidates in the presence of party President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode, former Jathedar Sri AKal Takht Sahib and Sant Harnam Singh Khalsa, Head Sant Samaj during a press conference. Addressing the association members, Harjinder Singh said that DSGMC employees were not only ill-treated by the Sarna duo during their tenure but also faced hardship as the committee neither implemented the recommendations of 5th and 6th pay commission nor paid dearness allowance (DA) arrears for a decade. He questioned that how one could survive on the salary of mere 5-7 thousands rupees per month in a metro city like Delhi. He said that Sarnas even refused to give uniforms to the staff.
Describing the autocratic tendencies of Sarnas, Harjinder Singh said that 46 employees had been suspended just for raising their reasonable demands, whose services were reinstated after a 4 years long legal battle by Delhi High Court. He said that in this case DSGMC led by Sarnas spent Rs 50 crores on the fees of advocates against them rather than using this money for the employee’s welfare. Lashing at Sarnas for forcing DSGMC employees to act according to duo’s political motives, Harjinder Singh said that they were ordered not to bestow Siropas to Panj Piaras leading Khalsa March to mark Fateh Diwas. He said that Sarnas even asked them to restrict the entry of the people taking part in this March into the premises of Sri Moti Bagh Gurdwara, what to talk about serving them Langar. He said that being failed to achieve them motives through them Sarnas enacted the task force of goons. He said that on one hand the Granthi Singh Sahibans were getting salary of Rs. 8 thousand per month and on other hand task force men were enjoying handsome salaries.Welcoming the decision of the welfare Association, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that he was shocked to hear the plight of the DSGMC employees. He promised that the Shiromani Akali Dal would ensure the better service conditions for DSGMC employees, once elected to the Committee. Mr. Badal said that the party would review and meet all the reasonable demands of the DSGMC employees besides fulfilling all the commitments made by the party in its election manifesto.Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode and Sant Harnam Singh Khalsa also appealed the Sikhs to vote for Shiromani Akali Dal candidates to ensure the Panthic unity and dignity. It can be mentioned that Sant Samaj today announced its support to SAD (B) candidate during a press conference earlier today.