Gonda — A provincial meeting of the Sikh community was held on Sunday under the aegis of the Uttar Pradesh Sikh Gurudwara Coordination Committee, at the meeting hall of Gurudwara Shri Dukh Nivaran Sahib in Malviya Nagar. Office-bearers, members of gurudwara management committees, and the sadh-sangat from various districts across the state gathered to deliberate on community unity, strengthening the organization, and pressing social, religious, and political concerns.
The meeting was chaired by Parvinder Singh, member of the UP Minorities Commission and Chairperson of the UP Sikh Gurudwara Coordination Committee, while proceedings were conducted by senior advocate Rajendra Singh Khurana of Devipatan Division. In his presidential address, Singh said the Sikh community has always been identified with service, dedication, equality, sacrifice, and patriotism. He stressed that the need of the hour is to bring the community together under one banner and connect the younger generation with the teachings and values of the Gurus. Despite their relatively small numbers, he said, the Sikh community has consistently played a leading role in serving the nation, serving society, and protecting humanity — and will continue to carry that tradition forward. He was honored on the occasion with a siropa and memento.
Several speakers urged the community to set aside internal differences and come together on a common platform, to strengthen social harmony, and to work in an organized way on issues affecting the community. It was unanimously decided to further strengthen the organization by bringing every section of the community on board.
The meeting also raised a demand before the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure adequate representation for the Sikh community in various government committees, commissions, and advisory bodies. Other demands included a dedicated law to provide subsidized electricity to gurudwaras and other religious sites, effective implementation of minority welfare schemes, and better opportunities in education, employment, and self-employment for the community’s youth. Speakers pointed out that the Sikh community has made notable contributions across every field — from the freedom struggle to nation-building — and said the government should respond to the community’s sentiments and needs with sensitivity and positive action, so that government schemes reach every eligible person within the community.
The meeting also went into detail on organizational expansion, membership drives, activating coordination committees at the district and division levels, and plans for upcoming programmes. It concluded with a collective pledge toward unity, brotherhood, social harmony, and public service.
Participants included office-bearers of gurudwara management committees and members of the sadh-sangat from Lucknow, Gonda, Karnailganj, Balrampur, Utraula, Tulsipur, Bahraich, Matera, Ayodhya, Basti, Tanda, and Barabanki, among other districts. Also present on the occasion were Sardar Mahendra Singh Chabra, Sardar Rajendra Singh Khurana, Sardar Ajit Singh Saluja, Rippy Bhatia, Sardar Jaspal Singh Saluja, Sardar Trilochan Singh, and hundreds of others.
