In the ongoing dispute between Haryana Government and the Centre over managing gurdwaras in Haryana, the Congress-ruling Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has now stepped in supporting Haryana Government and calling Central Government’s interference as ‘unconstitutional.
“The Central Government should not interfere in state government’s affairs at all as it is unconstitutional,” said Virbhadra Singh while talking to The Pioneer. Singh said, “It has been written in the constitution of India that the State Government should take its decisions on its own”. About the formation of separate Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee in Haryana, Virbhadra said it is a good decision. This was their long-pending demand and, now they have managed to get it done. Haryana Government has right to do so and there is nothing wrong in it.”
Notably, Union Home Ministry, on the request of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had on July 18 written a letter to Haryana Governor and Chief Secretary to withdraw Haryana Shiromani Gurdwara Management Act-2014. The Ministry had written that this Act should have been sent to the Central Government for its prior approval.
On the issue of formation of a separate body for management of gurdwaras in Himachal, Virbhadra said that there is no problem in the management of gurdwaras in the State. Himachal Government does not interfere in these issues, he added. “We are completely satisfied with the management of gurdwaras in our State and feel that there is no need to interfere in it”, added Singh.
There are around 25 gurdwaras in the neighbouring hilly State. These include Gurdwara Tir Garhi (Bhangani), Gurudwara Kalgidhar Sahib, Gurudwara Dasvin Patshahi (Nadaun), Guru Ka lahaur (Bilaspur), Gurudwara Guru Gobind Singh Sahib (Nahan), Gurudwara Paonta Sahib, among others. Only two Gurdwaras namely Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib and Gurudwara Dasvin Patshahi (Nadaun), Hamirpur are managed by Amritsar- based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, however, rest of the Gurdwaras are managed by the local managing committees in Himachal.