SGPC row: Centre's directive must be obeyed, says new Har guv

As controversy raged over Haryana's move to create a separate Gurdwara Management Committee, Governor-designate Kaptan Singh Solanki today said the Centre's directive against it "must be obeyed".

Solanki said though his opinion was personal, he would look into all aspects before taking a decision on the Centre's directive to annul the Act passed by the state Assembly, to which the former Governor has already accorded sanction.

"Under the circumstances, if the central government says something, I think it is my personal opinion that it must be obeyed," Solanki said.

He said that although he cannot say anything off-hand on what he will do once he takes over as the new Governor, he "will look into all aspects".

"If the matter comes before me, I will go through all the facts as per the Constitution. I will ensure that there will be no political interference in this matter," he said.

Solanki said he is open to consider the matter and look into the legality of the issue of Haryana forming a separate SGPC, which Punjab has strongly objected to, saying it is "unconstitutional" and "illegal".

He added if there is another opinion, that will also be sought.

BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh, Solanki, has been appointed the new Governor of Haryana to replace Jagannath Pahadia, whose term ends July 26. Solanki is likely to take over his new assignment in a day or two.

Haryana and Punjab are at loggerheads over the issue of a separate SGPC by the latter after the passing of a new law by the state Assembly which was accorded assent by the outgoing Governor Jagannath Pahadia.

Strongly objecting to Haryana's act, Punjab has knocked on the doors of the Centre and sought its intervention, saying that a separate SGPC is in contravention of the Central Gurdwara Act of 1925.

The Centre has asked Haryana to revoke the new law in a communication to the state, which has rejected the Union Home Ministry's directive and instead asked it to "forthwith withdraw" its letter seeking annulment of the Act creating a separate SGPC.

Reacting to the row, Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said Haryana Legislator's right also have to be recognised and respected.

"It was in November 1966 that the erstwhile state of Punjab was reorganised and successor states were carved out. Haryana became a successor state similarly Himanchal Pradesh. Delhi has a separate act," he said.

Asked whether it was becoming a Centre-State issue, he said,"Why centre?... because Akali Dal is an allay of the BJP. Do they have to remind that Delhi has its own Gurudwara Prabandhak committee through an Act. Is Delhi part of India or not. Delhi is the capital of India.

"Takh Hazoor Saheb, Nander Saheb, Patna Saheb... these are all independent of the SGPC. SGPC is controlled by the Akalis. They cannot be the sole custodians of the Sikh shrines. I am sorry," he said.

Asked whether BJP and Akali Dal will have the last laugh on the issue, he said, he was talking of Haryana Legislator's right and not his right.

"Its a successor state and anybody who understands constitution and law would respect that. Both Haryana and Himanchal as separate states have their own right," he said.