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Dhindsa for separate Sikh Marriage Act

S.S. Dindsa.

Phagwara: Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa on Sunday came out in support of a separate ‘Anand Karaj’ (marriage) Act for the Sikhs, while his party president and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal appeared non-committal on bringing a bill on the issue in the State Assembly.

Talking to journalists here, Mr. Badal skirted the issue by saying that the decision to introduce any bill in the Punjab Assembly would be taken keeping the circumstances in view. However, the former Union Minister, who was sitting besides him, said all Sikh MPs cutting across party lines had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for enacting the Act by amending the constitution.

He said for putting a check on certain unscrupulous NRI bridegrooms, who are leaving their wives in lurch, the registration of marriage was must and it could be done through Anand Karaj Act.

At this, Mr. Badal asserted that he was also in favour of registration a marriage so that certain NRI grooms could not create problems for their brides by ditching them.

However, he remained non-committal to persistent queries of reporters for bringing in any proposal in Punjab Assembly for enacting any such Act.

All that the Chief Minister would say on the issue was that he would consult his colleagues about it. He said he had high regard for all religions and the issue of separate Anand Act should not be linked with Hindus or Sikhs. — PTI

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