Kaithal/Yamunanagar (August 6, 2014) – At the time when Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee’s (SGPC) task force and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) men were busy at Kurukshetra, Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras Management Committee (HSGMC) leaders and supporters took over three Sikh Gurdwaras in Haryana including Gurdwara Sri Hargobind Sahib Patshahi Chhevin at Guhla-Cheeka, around 30km from Kaithal and two relatively smaller gurdwaras, at Jagadhri and Kapal Mochan Gurdwara in Jhiverraidy village in Yamunanagar.
Gurdwara Pehli (first) and Dasvi (10th) Patshahi in Kapal Mochan village here is buzzing with activities. Senior Akali leaders, including ex-Education Minister Upenderjit Kaur, and many SGPC men are camping on the gurdwara premises.
One of the most significant Gurdwaras, Gurdwara Guhla Cheeka, which is located close to the Punjab border was taken over on Wednesday afternoon and the 50-odd staff of SGPC left after around 250 HSGMC men, armed with sticks and swords, stormed the shrine around noon.
A clash took place at Kurukshetra too, requiring police intervention and resulting in injuries to 25 people, after the Kaithal takeover was announced. Reportedly, the HSGMC unsuccessfully tried to take over the historic Kurukshetra gurdwara too where it wants to have its headquarters.
The move at Kaithal came unexpected not just to the SGPC. Even the district administration was caught unawares. The SGPC employees led by manager Devinder Singh found no time to resist. As the HSGMC took control, deputy commissioner NK Solanki and superintendent of police Kuldeep Singh visited the gurdwara. Later, HSGMC ad hoc president Jagdish Singh Jhinda also visited and termed the takeover a historic move. A large number of police personnel were deployed.
The gurdwara at Guhla, whose complex cover 164 acres, is significant as the sixth Sikh master, Guru Hargobind Sahib, and the ninth Guru Teg Bahadur had visited the place. With 80 shops forming part of its property, it has revenue of around `1 crore a year.
Confirming the taking over of gurdwara, HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda said they took over the management at 1.45pm. Terming the move as part of their strategy, Jhinda said there were only 20-25 persons inside the gurdwara when their supporters take over the management and the SGPC men moved out.
Jhinda further stated that employees of the gurdwara had handed over the entire record of the shrine and were cooperating with them. Jhinda also clarified that employees of all Haryana gurdwaras would be governed by HSGMC Act.
Holding SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal responsible for spoiling the peaceful atmosphere in the state, Jhinda said both leaders should apologize to the Sikhs of Haryana and vacate all gurdwaras immediately.
The storming was led by former SGPC member Avtar Singh Chakku, who is now an HSGMC supporter, and Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal from Bathinda. Daduwal and Chakku said they had made the plan at night. “As the SGPC was engaged at Kurukshetra, we gathered here at 11am; and by 1.30pm we took control. SGPC’s employees were busy watching news from Kurkshetra on TV,” Daduwal said.
Chakku said the SGPC employees were offered jobs under the HSGMC, “but, as most of them are from Punjab, they refused”. “We will not allow or engage in any violence. It is the SGPC which is illegally occupying the gurdwaras in Haryana,” he added.
The HSGMC started langar (community kitchen) and offered prayers amid victory slogans of ‘Jo bole so Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’. It also deputed a task force of young men at the entrance, and the police, apprehending violence, made elaborate deployment and put up barricades on roads leading to the shrine.
“It’s a historic day for Haryana’s Sikhs. This is just the beginning; we will take control of all gurdwaras of Haryana. It’s not just our religious right but legal right too,” said an elated Jhinda.
On the SGPC and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) – Punjab’s ruling party that also controls the SGPC – possibly trying to retake control, the SSP said no one would be allowed to enter the gurdwara or disturb law and order.