Gobind Singh Longowal was re-appointed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief amid ruckus at the general house meeting at Teja Singh Samundri Hall here.
Longowal’s name was proposed by former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur and was endorsed by Alwinder Pal Singh Pakhoke, nephew of SAD (Taksali) chief Ranjit Singh Brahmpura.
At this, some members—Balwinder Singh Bains, Mahinder Singh Hussainpur, Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Amrik Singh Shahpur and Sarwan Singh—staged a walkout.
They claimed that it was not right to announce the name of a person as president without saying what he had achieved in his previous term.
Longowal was expected to retain the post as he enjoys the blessings of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal who controls the body that manages the affairs of historic Sikh shrines in north India.
Also, Harjinder Singh Dhami and Rajinder Singh Mehta were re-elected general secretary and senior vice-president, respectively.
Born on October 18, 1956, Gobind Singh Longowal was elected as SGPC president for the first time in 2017 and then in 2018. He had then succeeded Kirpal Singh Badungar.
He is considered to be the best choice by the SAD chief. This at a time when the party faces angst from the Sikh community over the sacrilege incidents.
It was after those incidents of blasphemy that there was a revolt in the Panthic outfit. Subsequently, it led to the formation of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali).
A two-time MLA and a former minister in Punjab, Longowal was a close associate of former SAD leader Harchand Singh Longowal.
House passes resolution condemning Ayodhya verdict
The SGPC general house passed a resolution condemning the Supreme Court’s recent judgment in the Ayodhya Ram Janmbhoomi (birthplace) case. In its verdict on November 9, the apex court ruled that a temple be constructed for Hindus on a 2.77-acre site in Ayodhya, while Muslims be given five acres of an alternative land to build a potential mosque.