Manjinder Sirsa’s all efforts go in vain; major jolt to Sukhbir Badal
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
In a major setback to shiromani akali dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjinder Singh Sirsa failed to clear Punjabi exam, mandatory to become a member in the gurdwara committee. Now, he can’t become a president of DSGMC, as he had already lost the gurudwara elections.
As per Narinder Singh, Director, Directorate of Gurudwara elections orders” after careful examination of the case , it has been decided that Sh. Manjinder Singh Sirsa is not QUALIFIED, under section 10of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Act 1971, to be chosen a Co-opted members of the DSGMC, as anominee of the SGPC,Amritsar.”
Section 10 of the Act of 1971 mandates a member to have adequate knowledge of Punjabi and Gurbani, should be an amrtidhari Sikh and wear all five kakars (symbols) as per the Sikh rehat maryada.
Harvinder Singh Sarna of SAD (Delhi), who defeated Manjinder Singh Sirsa from the Punjabi Bagh segment in the gurdwara polls, recently held on August 22, had moved the Delhi high court challenging latter’s knowledge of Gurmukhi. Subsequent to this, the court asked director, gurdwara election, to submit report. The poll results were declared on August 25 and Sirsa lost to his arch rival Sarna.
In the exam, he was told to recite Gurbani and also write verses from Guru Granth Sahib. Sirsa said he recited Gurbani but refused to write verses. Sirsa submitted a copy of his BA Honours Punjabi degree from Sri Teg Bahadur Khalsa College, Delhi University, which he did from 1990 to 1993. He also submitted a certificate issued by the Principal of Sukho Khalsa Sr Secondary School, Jail Road Janakpuri, New Delhi, which said that Manjinder Singh Sirsa had recited Gurbani in Gurmukhi and had also written Gurmukhi script before the Principal.Both his claims were rejected by the Directorate.
Sirsa was asked to write an application in Gurmukhi, which the orders said, “had 27 errors”. Further, the order said Sirsa “was not able to properly recite (a verse from Gurbani), with proficiency and accuracy”.
Manjinder Sirsa’s all efforts go in vain; major jolt to Sukhbir Badal . Sirsa’s Punjabi test was necessitated after some members of the opposition groups, Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) and JAGO Party raised questions on Sirsa’s knowledge of the language in the last meeting of newly elected 46 members held on September 9.
September 21,2021
