Across the Sikh world, there is a sense of satisfaction that the Government of Maharashtra has passed on the matter of new legislation for Takht Hazur Saheb to a Cabinet Sub-Committee, the Sikhs of Nanded over the last 15 days have been fasting in front of the District Collector’s Office as they fear that the government is insincere in its move of withdrawal of the new Act. WSN reports from Nanded.

Since the last two weeks, there has been total indifference by the local representatives of the Bharatiya Janta Party even though by and large the Sikhs in Nanded have politically aligned with the BJP and the region which has Sikhs in large numbers has returned 3 MLAs and 3 MPs from the area. Amidst growing disillusionment and discontent with the BJP in Nanded, Sikhs are on a chain-fast protest.

It is pertinent to note that instead of addressing the lingering issues expressed by the Sikh community against the new Act approved by the Maharashtra Cabinet on 5 February, District Collector Abhijeet Raut has asked protesters to withdraw their agitation and trust the state government, which has been turned down by the protestors.

Speaking on the phone line to World Sikh News, Jagdeep Singh, who has been spearheading the protests said, “Our protests will continue till the government gives an express undertaking to the Bombay High Court and orders the conduct of elections without delay.”

Our protests will continue till the government gives an express undertaking to the Bombay High Court and orders the conduct of elections without delay.

Jagdeep Singh Nambardar, Leader of Protest Campaign against New Act at Nanded, Maharashtra

Local leaders of the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray), Congress, and NCP (Sharad Pawar) have been lending full support to the protest Dharna regularly. The Sikhs in Nanded hope that the newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs Ajit Gopchade and Ashok Rao Chavan will support them.

Recently the protests have received public support from the former Mayor of Karimnagar, the President of Nanded District Advocates Association, Adv. Ashish Godhamgaokar, Adv. Sanjay Wakode, Adv. SurendrasingLoniwale, Adv. Amol Wagh, Adv. Maruti Badalgaokar.

In the last two days, community leaders including Ravindra Singh Bungi, Premjyot Singh Sukhi, Deepak Singh Hazuria, Tega Singh Bawri, Maninder Singh Ramgadiya, Jagdeep Singh Numberdar, and Gurudev Singh Ramgadiya fasted. They were joined by Shersingh Fauji, Gurmeet Singh Mahajan, Manpreet Singh Kunjivale, Manbir Singh Granthi, Deepak Singh Galliwale, Rajendra Singh Pujari, Jarnail Singh Gadivale, Karan Singh Lonivale, Ravindra Singh Pujari, Kripal Singh Hazuria, Simranjit Singh Kunjivale, Harbhajan Singh Pujari, Deepak Singh Hazuria, Birendra Singh Bedi, Mahender Singh Paidal, Surendra Singh Member, Jaspal Singh Langri, Avtar Singh Pahredar, Jasbir Singh Bugni, Gurprit Singh Sokhi, Manpreet Singh Karagir, Harbhajan Singh Digwa, Kashmir Singh Bhatti, Sukhvinder Singh Hudal, Inder Singh Shahu, Gurdeep Singh Sandhu, Amarjit Singh Kunjivale, Bhola Singh Gadivale, Kiran Singh Shahu, Babu Singh Basarivale, Baljit Singh Bawri, Dalip Singh Ragi, Jeet Singh Dukanadar, Inderjit Singh Gadganj, Kehar Singh, Jagjit Singh Khalsa, Daljit Singh Hyderabad, former councillor Babubhai Khokevale, and Habib Bagwan participated in the protests.

On the fourteenth day, the Jathedar of Gurudwara Mata Sahib, Tejasing, and Mohan Hambirde from Nanded South visited. Those on fast on the fourteenth day included JagdeepsingNumberdar, ManindersingRamgadiya, Gurmeetsing Bedi, BholasingGadivale, Hazurasing Shahu, Amarjeetsing Mahajan, Shersing Pujari, and JasbirsingBugni.They were joined by Shersingh Fauji, Gurmeetsingh Mahajan,  ManpreetsingKunjivale, RavindersinghBungi, Manbirsingh Granthi, DeepaksinghGalliwale,  Rajendersingh Pujari, JernalsinghGadivale, KaransinghLonivale, Ravindersingh Pujari, KripalsinghHazuria, SimranjeetsinghKunjivale, Harbhajansingh Pujari, DeepaksinghHazuria, Birendrasingh Bedi, MahendersinghPaidal, Surendrasingh Member, JaspalsinghLangri, AvtarsinghPahredar, GurpritsinghSokhi, ManpreetsinghKaragir, SukhvindersinghHudal, Inder Singh Shahu, Gurudeepsingh Sandhu, AmarjeetsinghKunjivale, Jagjeetsingh Khalsa.Ravindersing, Manjeetsing Contractor, Bishansing, Yashpalsing, Savarnsing, Balbirsing, Mahendersing, and Mandirsing