 "If separate SGPC is formed, it will be challenge to Akal Takht: Makkar")
"If the separate SGPC is formed, the step will be directly taking on and challenging the Akal Takht. The word of the Akal Takht is final, but if some Sikhs still chose to ignore it and go against it, they are guilty and can invite any action as the supreme temporal body deems fit," SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has issued an appeal to the Haryana Sikhs, urging them not to become partners in the feud to create a wedge in the community.
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"I have already appealed to the Sikhs in Haryana. The move is a conspiracy to weaken the Sikhs. The Sikhs should understand this and oppose any such move tooth and nail and not fall into this trap," Giani Gurbachan Singh said.
Asked about the claims of ruling Congress in Haryana that over a couple of lakh of affidavits have been received from the Sikhs of the state, favouring forming of a separate SGPC, the SGPC chief said, "It is not a demand of the Sikh masses in Haryana, but of a handful of people in the state with a political motive."
"I challenge the claims that over 2.5 lakh affidavits have been received from the Sikhs of Haryana favouring a separate SGPC," Makkar said.
He said if the Sikhs of Haryana were genuinely backing the demand, "then why leaders who are at the forefront of this campaign for separate panel lost the SGPC elections in 2011, even forfeiting their security deposits."
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is scheduled to attend a Sikh conference being organised in Kaithal tomorrow by the State's Sikh leaders including Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalwi who are demanding a separate panel for their gurdwaras.
Makkar also denied the charges made by some Haryana Sikh leaders spearheading the campaign for separate panel that SGPC was not spending enough money on the upkeep of the gurdwaras in the state.