Wary of INLD, Hooda-created HSGMC to canvass for Cong

AMRITSAR: Fearful of being stubbed up if INLD is voted to power in Haryana, the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) has decided to approach and urge the community to vote for the Congress. The body wants Sikhs in Haryana to express their gratitude to the Congress for establishing the nascent panel by voting it back to power in the state. A decision to this effect was taken during an emergency meeting of HSGMC office-bearers at the historic gurdwara in Ghula Cheeka in Kaithal late on Wednesday evening.
Talking to TOI on Thursday, HSGMC vice-president Didar Singh Nalwi said, "Most of our projects are on a standstill as we are fighting a battle for our existence." He said the open announcement by Indian National Lok Dal (NLD) leadership to scrap the HSGMC Act was against the spirit of democracy. "It's not a question of whether the Congress is good or bad. It's the question of Sikhs' own identity and survival in Haryana, especially after stance INLD leaders have taken," he said.
The executive committee, general body members and those who actively participated in the formation of HSGMC took part in the emergency meeting. They decided to spread out in Sikh-dominated assembly constituencies of Haryana with the message of brining back the Congress.
HSGMC general secretary Kulwant Singh Nagla said, "The Congress government in Haryana gave us an opportunity to live with dignity so it becomes our duty to repay the gesture and help them." He claimed that despite the Supreme Court's status quo orders, SGPC has its task force deployed in Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Kurukshetra.
"SAD is contesting assembly elections in Haryana," Nagla said, adding "We will go to all the assembly constituencies where Sikhs are in substantial numbers. We will tell our brethrens as to what SAD-backed SGPC has done for us so far and what the Congress government did."