Badal loyalist becomes SGPC chief again

Amritsar, Nov 23 - The annual election to the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) was reduced to an 'envelope' ritual Friday in this Sikh holy city in Punjab with state Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's known loyalist and protege Avtar Singh Makkar being chosen as president of what is the world's richest Sikh body for the third year running.

Makkar will be the 42nd president of the cash-rich Sikh organization that has an annual budget of over Rs 3.25 bn (Rs 325 crores, $80 million), mostly from donations made by millions of devotees at gurdwaras in this region.

An 'envelope' was opened by senior SGPC leader and past president Kirpal Singh Badungar, who himself was a strong contender for the post this year, and Makkar was 'unanimously' announced as SGPC president for the third time.

Makkar is a known loyalist of Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal, the working president of the ruling Akali Dal in Punjab. A mere gurudwara president in Ludhiana before being elevated to the SGPC president's post in 2005, Makkar is largely seen as a 'rubber stamp' of the Badals in managing Sikh religious and community affairs.

The ruling Akali Dal has a brute majority of nearly 170 members in the 185-member SGPC general house.

Badal tried to appease the SGPC members Thursday by promising to provide them with two security armed guards from Punjab police and also allowing them to use red beacon lights atop their private vehicles.

However, Makkar's manner of re-election was objected to by some SGPC members. Kirpal Singh Panjoli termed the process as undemocratic.

Makkar had faced charges of corruption and being a weak administrator during his earlier tenures.

'I thank Badal Sahib for choosing me to be president again. I will try to live up to his expectations. We have fought for the rights of Sikhs and promoting the religion. We will continue to fight against female foeticide,' Makkar said after his re-election.

(c) Indo-Asian News Service

More India (World) News click here