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Makkar may be axed if Sehajdhari row is settled
Tuesday, April, 16 2013 - 11:22
By Jagtar Singh-
CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Avtar Singh Makkar is likely to be replaced in case the Sehajdhari Sikh Party finally settles the issue of voting right with Shiromani Akali Dal President and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Sehajdhari Sikh Party chief Paramjit Singh Ranu has claimed that he was interacting with Sukhbir Badal on this issue.
It may be mentioned the previous and the general houses of the SGPC are non-functional due to court intervention. It is the Sehajdhari Party that had approached the court following the notification that debarred the Sehajdharis from the voting rights. It was on the basis of this notification that the last elections to the general house were held. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had stayed the notification subsequently. By that time, new general house had been elected.
However, the Supreme Court stayed the functioning of the new general house on the petition filed by the Sehajdhari Party. For administrative purpose, the executive committee representing the previous house was allowed to run the SGPC affairs. The previous house became non-functional after the election of the new general house.
In case the Supreme Court restores voting rights to the Sehajdharis, fresh elections are likely to be held and the Shiromani Akali Dal would like to avoid that situation at this juncture.
In case the Sehajdhari Sikh Party withdraws its petition from the Supreme Court following settlement with Sukhbir Badal in case voting rights to the Sehajdharis are assured, the new house would become functional.
With the new house becoming functional, the executive body would have to be elected. Sources maintain that in that situation, Makkar might not be the next choice as he has outlived his utility. He was brought in to mobilise urban Sikh voters.
source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/Makkar-may-be-axed-if-Sehajdhari-row-is-settled.html