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Interview | Will take SGPC to the masses, says new chief Badungar
Hindustan Times talked to new SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar to know about the challenges he faces and his action plan to deal with them
Hindustan Times talked to new SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar to know about the challenges he faces and his action plan to deal with them. Excerpts:
What are main challenges you face in your new role?
The biggest challenge is to restore ‘gurmat maryada’ and Sikh traditions in all Sikh shrines.
What’s your plan of action?
I will get in touch with all sections of the Sikh panth and try to bring them on a common platform. I have an elaborate plan to reach out to the Sikh masses and to cover up the gaps that have cropped up due to different reasons. I will make use of social media to convey our message to increase the reach.
Assembly polls are approaching and your party (Akali Dal) is a key contender. What role do you see for yourself?
Being the SGPC president, my main focus is ‘dharam parchar’. Though I will support my party in the polls. My entire team will get engaged in campaigning for the Akali Dal.
Incidents of sacrilege are on the rise. What steps you want to take to check this?
No doubt, Sikhs are hurt because of the ‘be-adbi’ of Guru Granth Sahib. I will first find out the reasons behind the spate of such crimes and then draw out a plan to ensure that such incidents don’t happen.
‘Gurmat parchar’ has taken a back seat and number of learned preachers is limited. Your views.
It’s my dream project to run special institutions of learning for the Sikh preachers at a bigger scale. In my previous term, I had opened a school of ‘gurmat’ teachings at Sultanpur Lodhi. Such schools will come up in other parts of the state.
