ANANDPUR SAHIB, Punjab—Former Hazoori Ragi of Sri Harmandir Sahib, Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala on March 22 organized a large scale seminar here aimed at “Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar”. Bhai Wadala is looking for support to carry out a Gurdwara reform movement across Punjab.
At the seminar, Bhai Wadala said that the current management of Gurdwaras are harmful to Sikh traditions and principles. “The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is currently working on footsteps of Narain Mahant, who at one time controlled Nankana Sahib. We need to restart the Gurdwara reform movement and rise above personal agendas in the SGPC Gurdwara elections,” he appealed.
Several prominent Sikh leaders were among the crowd which numbered close to 10,000. Shiromani Committee member from Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Assandh also attended the seminar and talked about the problems of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara management.
Unanimously, six resolutions were passed at the seminar –
- Establish a system and policies to manage over Gurdwaras
- Guru Granth Sahib desecration accused be given severest punishments
- Celebrate Vaisakhi as Khalsa Day so the Khalsa spirit can be re-ignited
- Gurdwaras should play prominent role in eradicating apostasy, drug addiction, female feticide, corruption, unemployment, anti-Sikh rituals, and provide free education and medical centers
- Only practicing Amritdhari Sikhs should control over the Gurdwaras and Sikh youth should be given prominence in management and seva
- Badal family was blamed for misusing Sikh institutions in their own favour which led to downfall of Sikh standards in Gurdwaras
Under the banner of “Sikh Sadhbhawna Dal” Bhai Wadala announced that the Gurdwara reform movement will be launched at local levels with Gurmat parchar and amrit sanchar ceremonies.
Bhupinder Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib said, “During the past, all Panthik groups united to stop Guru Granth Sahib desecration. This was done with common interest for the community. Now, we again need to rise above Jathebandis and unite to reform our Gurdwaras.”
Bhai Wadala has held similar programs in other places as well. He had earlier held a meeting at Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and then at Agampura.
The SGPC on the other hand has issued a strict warning to Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala. He has been told to not interfere in SGPC management affairs, else he would not be allowed to do seva at SGPC controlled Gurdwaras. Bhai Wadala was earlier removed as the Hazoori Ragi of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib after he protested against appointment of Harcharan Singh as the chief secretary of the SGPC. Bhai Wadala had alleged that the Gurdwara Act of 1925 had no provision to hire a chief secretary.