Chandigarh, January 23 – Working President Balwinder Singh Bhundar led a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) delegation. Former President Sukhbir Singh Badal and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami also led the delegation. Today they met Gurdwara Elections chief commissioner Justice (retd) S S Saron. They requested him to extend the process for registration of voters for the SGPC elections to March 31. They also asked for the removal of all bogus votes.

Sukhbir Badal Highlights Voter Registration Issues in SGPC Elections

While presenting the memorandum to the chief commissioner Sukhbir Badal informed Justice Saron of a significant issue. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had directed booth level officers to register votes en mass from voter lists. As a result, thousands of non-Sikhs gained the right to vote in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak (SGPC) elections. He said they were deleting genuine votes while adding bogus ones.

chief commissioner : Badal Urges Review of SGPC Voter Lists

This was part of the conspiracy to take over control of the SGPC by hook or by crook. Mr Badal urged the chief commissioner to review all voter lists. This guarantees that bogus votes be weeded out. He also appealed to extend the time period to make new votes. He said that the election process still excludes a large number of eligible voters. Badal also cited the example of Himachal Pradesh, where they have not made the voter list yet.

“SAD Stands for Genuine Voter Registration, Condemns AAP Obstruction”

Later while briefing newsmen about the memorandum, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said the SAD stood for registration of genuine voters. He condemned that the AAP government was obstructing this exercise. Cheema explained that the authorities had given thousands of non-Sikhs the right to vote. They had not applied to be registered as voters for the elections. He said the delegation had also informed the chief commissioner about the Sikh rehat maryada. Under it, it is compulsory to suffix Singh or Kaur with Sikh names. “We have submitted voter lists to the Commission. These lists contain the names of voters. The names are in contravention to the Sikh rehat maryada.

SAD Delegation Requests Strict Adherence to Gurdwara Voter Registration Rules”

SAD Working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar said the delegation had also made a plea. They asked the Gurdwara Elections to direct the government. The delegation wants to make sure that rules governing the registration of voters are adhered to strictly. The delegation included Hira Singh Gabhria, Amarjit Singh Chawla and Arshdeep Singh Kler.