Deadlock over HSGPC President election; Sikh leaders meet Haryana CM and Union Minister
Harshabab Sidhu
Chandigarh, May 4, 2025 – Members of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGPC) met with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday here to discuss the ongoing delay in the election of the committee's president.
Although the HSGPC elections were held some time ago, the president is yet to be elected. Out of the 49-member committee, 40 members have already been elected, while the remaining 9 are to be nominated.
The election for the president can only proceed once these 9 nominated members are finalized.Sikh leader Jagdish Singh Jhinda, who was part of the delegation, said several issues were discussed during the meeting with the CM and Union Minister, particularly the nomination of the remaining members.
Jhinda stated that the government made it clear that it would not interfere in religious matters and that the 9 nominated members will be chosen by the 40 elected members themselves.
He added that earlier there were concerns that the government might use the nominations to exert influence, but today’s meeting dispelled those fears, with both the CM and Union Minister assuring that there would be no interference from the government in the functioning of the religious body.
Following the meeting, it was decided that a further session would be held to try and build consensus among members. If an agreement is not reached, additional meetings will be conducted to ensure the president’s election process can move forward.
Despite coming from different groups and no single faction holding a clear majority, all committee members present at the meeting appeared to support the government’s neutral stance and agreed to work towards a resolution without bias.