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'Proposed amendment in Anand Marriage Act eyewash'
TNN, Feb 23, 2011, 04.26am IST
<!-- google_ad_section_start -->MOHALI: Terming the Anand Marriage Act Amendment Bill, 2008 -- which has the consent of Sikh members in Parliament and also the nod of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)-- as "merely an eyewash'', SGPC member from Mohali, Hardeep Singh, said on Tuesday that by accepting the amendment bill, Sikhs would only re-confirm the 'controversial' Article 25 (B) of the constitution which recognizes Sikhs to be a part of Hindu community.
Speaking to TOI, Hardeep said, "It is an act of fooling Sikhs, as the issue of distinct identity of Sikhs would be buried once again for a long time. Different religious and political parties are portraying themselves to be the champion for this amendment, and terming it as an achievement, but they are not considering its serious implications."
He said, "Just a half page Anand Marriage Act 1909, which is part of the broader Hindu Marriage Act, simply considers a marriage solemnized as per Anand-Karaj as legitimate, but legally it is a Hindu marriage.
The one-point proposed amendment is limited to opening a separate register with the registering authorities, and the 'Sikhs would still be Hindus' since they would remain included in the Hindu Marriage Act.
