Haryana: When bitter dispute led to violence outside gurdwara

AMBALA: The then Congress government-led Haryana state legislative assembly's move to pass Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) Act, 2014, in July 2014, had sparked a movement by the supporters of HSGMC who wanted to take control of historical and other gurdwaras in the state.

However, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), through its Kurukshetra member Harbhajan Singh Masanan, had then filed a petition in the Supreme Court on August 6, 2014, challenging the validating of act.

While the top court had stayed the matter, tempers flared on the ground.

SGPC members and HSGMC supporters clashed outside the historical Gurdwara Patshahi Chhevin in Kurukshetra on the same day the petition was filed.

About 2 pm, a section of HSGMC supporters attempted to take over the possession of Gurdwara Patshahi Chhevin.

"HSGMC supporters, brandishing swords and sticks, tried to enter the gurdwara by breaching the two-tier cordon by the police to prevent direct clashes. They hurled stones at the police and government officials on duty, damaging cars and vehicles, including a fire brigade. To maintain law and order, police personnel resorted to use of water cannons, teargas and minor force," reads the court record.

SGPC Haryana Sikh Mission in-charge at Kurukshetra, Mangpreet Singh, who was present at the spot when the clash took place said, "There was no clash between the supporters of HSGMC and SGPC, but it was a clash between police and HSGMC people."

On the other hand, HSGMC vice-president Didar Singh Nalvi had claimed that a group of some people (SGPC supporters) who came from Punjab had reached their protest site and indulged in stone pelting, triggering clashes.