Chandigarh: The entire management of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has completely collapsed. There has been a significant decline in the management of Gurdwaras, and the fields of religious propagation and education have completely failed. Chairman Jagdish Singh Jhinda is openly misusing the funds from the Guru's coffers. Of all the chairmen to date, Jhinda has proven to be the most incompetent. Such an incompetent chairman should resign from his post immediately.
These views were expressed today during a special press conference held at the Chandigarh Press Club by the office bearers and members of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. Present on the occasion were Gurmeet Singh Ramsar (Senior Vice President), Gurbir Singh Talakaur (Junior Vice President), Jagtar Singh Maan (Interim Member), Tajinderpal Singh Narnaul (Interim Member), Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal (Chairman, Religious Propagation), Senior Member Didar Singh Nalvi, Rajinder Singh Barara (Member), Gurtej Singh Ambala (Member), Mayor Bhupinder Singh Panipat (Member), Swaran Singh Bunga Tibbi (Member), Sarpanch Bhupinder Singh Ladi Saunkra (Member Representative – Bibi Kapoor Kaur Saunkra), Bhupinder Singh Saini (Member Representative – Captain Dilbag Singh Saini) and Sukhwinder Singh Mandebhar (Former General Secretary).
All the office bearers and members unanimously stated that not a single promise made by Jagdish Singh Jhinda at the time of becoming chairman has been fulfilled. These include promises to open a university school, to stop giving turbans of honor (siropas), to stop the private use of Gurdwara vehicles, to stop mistreating employees, and to end the VIP culture.
On the contrary, today Jhinda himself is distributing saffron turbans of honor even to unworthy individuals. Two committee vehicles and 12 employees are being used for personal purposes. Gurdwara funds and employees were misused in the name of Black Day. Money was collected by giving his personal account number in the name of flood victims. Massive misappropriation of funds has taken place in the name of celebrating the 350th anniversary.
Employees who perform well but are not favored are being removed from their jobs. Employees are being transferred to settle personal scores. Funds are being misused in collusion with some employees. In the education sector, the entire school system has been crippled due to arbitrary transfers at Nissing College and Tilokewala School.
Jagdish Singh Jhinda has become a dictator of the committee. Two General House meetings and three Executive Committee meetings have failed. Jhinda is the first president to have his own budget rejected. Jhinda has failed to respond to any of the serious allegations leveled against him by his former associate and president of the Jhinda Youth Group, Bhupinder Singh Ladi. All the office bearers and members said that the Gurdwara Election and Judicial Commissions constituted by the government are proving to be white elephants.
Jhinda's election as president was held in violation of the Gurdwara Act 2014, which has been challenged before Election Commissioner H.S. Bhalla, but despite eight months having passed, justice is not being delivered. Gurdwara Judicial Commissioner Darshan Singh Jaura had stayed the unilateral transfers made by Jhinda and issued orders to provide monthly accounts of each Gurdwara to every member, but Jhinda disregarded these orders.
On the contrary, the Judicial Commission illegally granted Jhinda permission to use the funds, which clearly shows the commission's collusion with Jhinda. They appealed to the government to immediately replace these two commissioners and appoint just and impartial commissioners. Jathedar Dadduwal Ji and all the office bearers and members unanimously stated that Jhinda should immediately stop misusing the Gurdwara funds, otherwise, this amount will have to be reimbursed by Jhinda and the employees who are colluding with him.