The Maharashtra government on Tuesday constituted a committee to consult Sikh community stakeholders on the proposed Sri Hazur Sahib Act, after BJP leaders flagged concerns and a gurmata rejected the state's earlier repeal move.
Committee Composition and Mandate
The committee includes the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue), Divisional Commissioner of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded Collector, Deputy Secretary (Revenue), and Deputy Collector of Nanded. It will invite Sikh clergy and community leaders to present their views on the issue.
BJP Leaders' Intervention
Senior BJP leader RP Singh and Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon had engaged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last week, urging the state to halt the move in the interest of consensus. RP Singh today urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Takht Sri Patna Sahib Management Committee, Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, and all Sikh organisations to proactively submit their suggestions.
“I also request CM Fadnavis that, while reconstituting the Board will take time, the government must retain its vision for the proposed mega rejuvenation plan for the Takht Hazur Sahib complex on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Mahakal Lok, Ujjain,” RP Singh said.
Heritage Corridor Proposal
The BJP has proposed a heritage corridor by acquiring 200 acres. It will have modern accommodation for pilgrims and a world-class virtual reality centre showcasing the life and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh. “This can significantly enhance the spiritual experience while preserving the sanctity, heritage and historical character of this sacred Takht for generations to come,” RP Singh added.
Background of the Controversy
The Maharashtra government had moved to repeal the Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib Abchalnagar Sahib Act, 1956, and replace it with a new law called Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Gurdwara Act. Punjab BJP chief Dhillon spoke to Fadnavis, leading the state to place the draft law in abeyance and promise a committee for wider discussions.
The state's move had triggered anxieties across the Sikh community. Caretakers of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib asserted their religious autonomy and issued a 'gurmata' (collective religious edict) rejecting the repeal proposal. The gurmata, read out by Singh Sahib Giani Ram Singh in the presence of Takht Jathedar Giani Kulwant Singh, is a binding collective decision taken in the name of the Guru.
