AMRITSAR: Gobind Singh Longowal was reelected unopposed as president of Sikh’s single largest representative body, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), consecutively for the third time amidst protest by about half a dozen SGPC members during General House session of SGPC held here at Teja Singh Samundari Hall in SGPC complex, on Wednesday.

Rajinder Singh Mehta, Gurbax Singh Nawanshaher and Harjinder Singh Dhami were also elected unopposed as senior vice -president, junior vice-president and general secretary of SGPC respectively.

Interestingly, former senior vice-president of SGPC, Ragujit Singh Virk, considered close to Badal family, was not given any responsibility.

Longowal’s name was proposed by former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur and was seconded by former acting president Alwiderpal Singh Pakhoke.

A total of 154 out of 185 SGPC members were present in the General House session. Fourteen members had passed away, two had submitted their resignation while fifteen remained absent.

As many as six SGPC members, including Sukhdev Singh Bharu, Balwinder Singh Bains , Amrik Singh Shahpur, Swaran Singh , walked out of the General House session protesting against ignoring the interests of employees by SGPC, its failure of non implementation of hukamnama (edict) issued by Akal Takht.

Earlier, on the eve of SGPC elections, all the members aligned with SAD (B) had given all rights to SAD(B) president Sukhbir Badal to ‘select’ candidates of his choice.

After his reappointment, Longowal said he would continue to serve 'Panth' and deliver his duties for the 'chardi kala' (high esteem) and propagation of Sikhism.

Bharu alleged that SGPC had spent around Rs 12 crores on erecting a stage at Sultanpur Lodhi to hold the functions to mark the 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev but it had not given salaries to teachers of SGPC-run school and colleges for past 9 months. He also alleged that SGPC was not taking strong measures to check apostasy among Sikh youths. He further resented that SGPC had not convened even a single day’s General House session to discuss over celebration functions in a run up to the 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Bains took up the issue of non-implementation of Akal Takht edict by SGPC. “Why SGPC is ignoring Akal Takht hukamnama for over last 9 years he questioned.

