The president of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) on Monday accused a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of insulting an HSGMC delegation and sought action against the member.

According to the HSGMC, a delegation held a meeting with SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, during which an SGPC member allegedly insulted members of the Haryana committee.

The HSGMC also sent a letter to the SGPC president on Monday expressing its displeasure over the incident and seeking an apology from the member concerned.

HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda said, “Both the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee are institutions dedicated to the service of the gurdwaras. Their aim is not to attain any position or authority but to implement the teachings of the Gurus through public welfare.”

“An 11-member committee was constituted by the HSGMC to resolve the issue of the Miri Piri Institute. As part of these efforts, a delegation met SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami. The members of the delegation informed us that an SGPC member insulted them in the presence of the SGPC president, which is unacceptable,” he said.

Jhinda added that a letter had been sent to the SGPC president requesting appropriate action against the member, asking him to withdraw his remarks and apologise. He said the delegation comprised elected representatives of the Sikh community of Haryana and that insulting them was highly condemnable.

Jhinda further said that the HSGMC would take over the management of the Miri Piri Institute soon and provide the required funds. Since the institute is still under the management of the SGPC, it is the SGPC's responsibility to pay the employees' salaries, but the dues have not yet been cleared.

He also said that the SGPC had challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order issued in May, in which the court ruled in favour of the HSGMC. The matter is scheduled to be heard on July 27.

The HSGMC president said the issue related to the salaries of the Miri Piri Hospital staff is pending before the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission and is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday. He added that a meeting of the executive body would be held this week to resolve issues related to the Miri Piri Institute.