Haryana decision on separate SGPC unconstitutional: Harsimrat

Terming Haryana's action of forming a separate SGPC for the state as "unconstitutional" and "illegal", Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Badal today said her party Shiromani Akali Dal has demanded action on how the bill was passed by the Governor.
Badal, wife of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, also charged Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with playing "petty politics" as it had no right to legislate such an Act.
"Hooda has violated the Constitution. It has not fall in the jurisdiction of the state. I am shocked such a senior governor has given into the demands of the government and played into the hands of the chief minister and signed such a paper," she said.

"I am shocked how the governor has even signed on it. It is totally unconstitutional and necessary action has been demanded by us," she said.
According to Badal. SGPC is an elected body of the Sikh community and is considered as the 'mini parliament' of Sikhs.
She leader said the SGPC, the supreme religious body of Sikhs, was formed under the Gurudwara Act of 1925 during British times and all subsequent governments have ensured that it stays like this.

"The Haryana government for petty political gains has now legislated this, which they have no right to do because any changes in the SGPC can either be done through the central government or through the SGPC and no state government has any right whatsoever," she said.

Expressing "shock" at the new Haryana Committee, which seeks to bring all gurdwaras in the state under its purview, will be funded by the Haryana government initially.
"I have never heard where a Gurudwara Committee is being paid by the government, which means that gurudwaras are trying to come under Mr Hooda's government. I am shocked how the governor has even signed on it," she said.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal along with party MPs yesterday petitioned the government and met Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Venkaiah Naidu demanding action against the Haryana government for bringing in a new law in contravention of the Central Gurdwara Act, 1925.