Sikh Council Urges Reversal of BJP’s Hazur Sahib Act Changes

Chandigarh, February 8 – The Global Sikh Council (GSC), a confederation of national level Sikh organizations worldwide, vehemently denounces the proposed amendments to the Takhat Sri Hazur Abchal Nagar Sahib Board Nanded Act, 1956, by the BJP-led Maharashtra Government.

She stated that the amendments to this act simply aim to seize control over the management of the fifth temporal seat of the Sikhs in the Southern states.

In a resolute press statement, Dr. Kanwaljit Kaur, OBE, President of the GSC, highlighted the consistent disregard shown by the BJP-led dispensation in Maharashtra towards Sikh sentiments.

She said that the amendments to this act simply aim to seize control over the management of the fifth temporal seat of the Sikhs in the Southern states.

“Previously, the BJP had undermined the democratic election process to appoint the president of the Nanded Sahib board and amended section 11 of the legislation to install board presidents of its own choosing. Now, the current BJP rulers seek to restrict the number of nominated members from Sikh organizations on the board and increase the number of government-nominated members—a blatant power grab over Sikh places of worship,” said Dr. Kanwaljit Kaur.

Issuing a rallying voice to Sikhs worldwide to vehemently oppose the BJP’s relentless assault on Sikh institutions through democratic ways,

Dr. Kanwaljit Kaur condemned the saffron party’s failure to engage in meaningful consultations with Sikh leaders and its established institutions before making amendments to the 67-year-old Nanded Act.

The GSC in its letter has urgently appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to retract these unwarranted, unethical, illegal, and unconstitutional amendments in the act without delay.