Another Kurukshetra likely as HSGMC lays siege to gurdwara

CHANDIGARH: After the Mahabharata, Kurukshetra is set to witness another epic battle with supporters of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) on Sunday laying siege to the historical shrine 'Chhenvi Patshahi' (dedicated to the sixth Sikh Guru).Their strategy is simple — cut all supply lines to the Akali leaders and representatives of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) camping inside the shrine from July 10.
A day after clashes between HSGMC and SGPC supporters, the HSGMC men on Sunday stopped around 50 people from Punjab at the gates of the gurdwara, triggering panic in the city. They have also blocked supply of food and other items to the gurdwara premises.Calling them members of SGPC task force, the HSGMC asked police not to allow them inside. Tension prevailed outside the shrine for some time as cops stopped the group and local administration diverted traffic on the road in front of the gurdwara.
Senior vice-president of HSGMC, Didar Singh Nalvi told TOI that those camping inside the shrine are dacoits, terrorist and intruders. "They are a threat to peace and tranquility of the state and the HSGMC has decided to lay siege to the gurdwara so that those inside may be forced to come out."
The HSGMC men will not allow anyone to enter the shrine except the pilgrims, he asserted. They have also filed a complaint with the district administration, asking it to book all those camping inside the gurdwara under sections 447 and 448 of IPC for criminal trespass.
Asked why only Kurukshetra gurdwara was under siege, Nalvi said, "Loss of Delhi is loss of India. If we manage to throw them out of Kurukshetra, which is the unofficial capital for the HSGMC, the entire battle would be won".
HSGMC president Jagdish Jhinda said their aim is not to attack the "infiltrators" occupying the premises but to confine them within the four walls. "Our agitation is for indefinite period. They will have to come out after all means of survival finished," he said.
HSGMC has installed separate loudspeakers and started a langar outside the gurdwara. Even ragis have started traditional gurbani kirtan separately in the HSGMC camp.
A five-member delegation of HSGMC would meet Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday at Chandigarh to apprise him of the situation and seek his help to take over the gurdwaras.