Tempers flare in Sikh gurdwara committee over budget audit
A deepening rift has surfaced within the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, as its president Jagdish Singh Jhinda faces a direct confrontation with two of his predecessors — Jathedar Baljeet Singh Daduwal and Bhupinder Singh Assandh — over alleged financial irregularities in the recently presented 2024-25 budget.
During a budget meeting involving Rs 104-crore proposal, president Jhinda raised concerns about what he termed “excessive and unjustified expenditure" on aid to rural gurdwaras. He highlighted that although only Rs 21 lakh was officially allocated, nearly Rs 3.75 crore was actually disbursed under this head during the tenure of former president Bhupinder Singh Assandh and while Jathedar Daduwal chaired the Dharam Prachar Committee.
“The general House has constituted a seven-member inquiry committee to examine the issue. The complete findings are awaited. The primary inquiry indicated huge discrepancies in funds,” Jhinda said.
He further demanded a comprehensive financial audit of the committee’s operations from its inception in 2014. “I am ready for any kind of audit during my tenure from 2014 to 2020. If found guilty, I will return every single rupee. An inquiry should be conducted during the tenure of other presidents Daduwal, Karamjeet Singh, and Assandh,” he said.
However, both Daduwal and Assandh have vehemently denied the allegations. Addressing the media in Karnal yesterday, Jathedar Daduwal dismissed the accusations as “baseless and politically motivated.”
“He does not even know what he is saying,” Daduwal said, alluding to Jhinda’s age and suggesting he may require medical attention.
Calling for a full audit by the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission, Daduwal demanded that the committee’s entire financial record from 2014 onwards be scrutinised. He also proposed that all members be subjected to dope tests, stating, “Any member found consuming intoxicants should be removed.”
He further alleged misuse of gurdwara donations during a June 26 event marking the anniversary of the Emergency and demanded a separate probe into the matter. He also threw a public challenge at Jhinda, inviting him to a live debate. “If the allegations are not proven, Jhinda should resign and apologise to the sangat,” Daduwal asserted.
Backing Daduwal, Bhupinder Singh Assandh also rejected the charges. “I have never taken a single rupee from the committee’s funds,” he claimed, also calling for a judicial audit instead of an internal inquiry.
Daduwal concluded by demanding a probe into funds allegedly received by Jhinda during 2024. “We will approach the Commission and will ask Jhinda to join a probe by the Judicial Commission,” he said.
Haryana Tribune