SGPC president opposes Waqf Amendment Bill, calls it interference in minority affairs

Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill passed in the Lok Sabha, calling it direct interference by the central government in minority affairs.

He said the bill was introduced without consulting the concerned parties, leading to widespread controversy.

Dhami alleged that the government’s intention appeared to be curbing minority rights and controlling their affairs. He reiterated SGPC’s stance on protecting minority rights and opposing any decisions that undermine them.

He further accused the government of previously targeting minorities through policies like the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which he said interfered with personal laws and religious beliefs.

He also criticized the Agniveer recruitment scheme, stating that it sought to remove reserved rights for minorities in the armed forces. Additionally, he pointed to the government’s attempt to enforce helmet rules for Sikh soldiers, which had faced strong opposition.

Dhami urged the government to refrain from making decisions affecting minorities without consultation. He said laws like the Waqf Amendment Bill threatened minority rights and called for its immediate withdrawal.