The Congress central leadership today came out in full support of Haryana in its face-off with the Centre on the creation of a separate SGPC, accusing the Narendra Modi government of encroaching on the autonomy of states.
"I am surprised by the response of government of India headed by BJP, which was highlighting importance of autonomy of states and infringement on their powers, is today trying to encroach upon the legitimate autnomy of the states", party General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed told PTI.
Ahmed wondered when there was a separate Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in Delhi as also in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, then why should Sikhs in Haryana cannot manage the affairs of gurdwaras in Haryana.
The Congress General Secretary's remarks came on a day when the party-ruled Haryana refused to accept the Centre's directive to take back the concerned bill and asked the Home Ministry to "forthwith withdraw" its letter in this regard as well as direct Punjab not to interfere in its affairs.
In its reply to the Home Ministry, Haryana termed the letter written to it yesterday as "an affront to the federal structure and Parliamentary democracy of India" and one which "is an insult of 2.5 crore Haryanvis and their elected legislators".
