While addressing a press conference, Chairman National Sikh Front S. Varinderjeet Singh demanded from State Govt., that their long pending genuine demand for a separate District Gurudwara Prabandak Committee for Samba District be acceded to as is enshrued in Sikh Gurudwara Endowment Act, 1973 and hold Gurudwara Election as early as possible. This is also essentially required as per the decision of pisional Bench of High Court, Jammu. He further said that it was in the year 2008, when Gulam Nabi Azad, was the Chief Minister of J&K State that 8 new District four each in Jammu & Kashmir pision were craved out. Right from that/time. We started demanding a separate DGPC for Samba and such other District where there is sizeable Sikh population and quite good no. of Gurudwara to be managed so that the some benefits of new districts accurse to Sikh popular also except in such District where there is very little or no sikh population one or more than one District, be combined which provision exists in the Gurudwara Act itself. Such an action will automatically be useful exercise when our single constituency of approximately 30000 voters in Jammu will be bifurcated into two to meet the requirement of equal voters for each constituency as under rule 4 of Act. But it is most
unfortunate that despite our persistent demand and High Court y directions, govt. still started making preparation for conduct of election on ' the basis of erstwhile districts. By issuing notification No. ENT/ 2011/ 8297 -8308 dt. 6.7.2011. This all is being managed by a group of persons J sole aim is to grab the Gurudwara stage and use it for their personal benefits, both for political gains and even to have many more facilities in • the name of Sikh representative as have been done in the past. Not only one but many examples can be quoted in this regard and will be done if situation so demands to bring all these to public domain. S. Tejinder Singh Sr. Vice President National Sikh Front who hails from Samba District and is a Sarpanch from Abtal was left with no other option but to seek justice from the High Court for giving a separate DGPC for Samba District and High Court having heard the plea stayed the Election on 10.08.2011 and desired the State Govt. to put forth their views on the issue. But, Govt. due to its usual lack luster policy did not make any decision. The other group misguiding the facts before High Court the Govt. nominated Committee Jammu replaced by another Committee which was against the direction of earlier pision Bench of High Court and as such led to an another petition presenting the correct position with all facts. The High Court orders to stick to its earlier
stand and the old committee was restored. ‘In this back ground these who are crying hoarse today of unnecessary litigation and delaying the election are them self responsible for this all unfortunate and undesirable events.It seems in made rush forth gaining the Gurudwara stage, they forget Sikhs have never tolerated interference in their religions affairs and given supreme sacrifices for the same.Let me make it amply clear that we are for early Gurudwara Election and would always support & cooperate with all those who earnestly & sincerely want free, fair and smooth election which will certainly go a long in meeting aspirations of Sikhs. For this we strongly l demand from the Govt. to prepare photo electoral rolls besides Urdu in Hindi & English too. Also ensure that only eligible Sikh Voters are included said the President S. Kulwant Singh Bhatti as same people are managing incluness of Bogus voters. We once again reiterate that we are strongly in favour earliest election to DGPC for which conducive atmosphere under rules be ensured. So that a class of person with clean image, religions back ground and with Pan urge to render services to Gurudwara rather than ruling it as is the aim of some of unguided, mischievous mind who do not want to see the development of religious places, proper preaching to bring youth to sight path.Among those who attended included. Tajinder Singh Sarpanch Abtal (Samba) S. Mohan Singh Bhatti Sarpanch, Nandpur (Ex. Member DGPC) Samba, Capt. Jasbir Singh Sarpanch Koulpur (Samba), S. Mohinder Singh President Gurudwara Rani Talab Digiana Jammu, Atinder Pal Singh Vijaypur (Samba) and others.