The move has come as a big relief to both the Haryana and the Punjab governments, as the takeover threat could have sparked off tension in both states. Talking to The Indian Express, Jagdish Singh Jhinda, president of HSGPC, said SGPC general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash

Singh Badal, met them today, requesting them to sort out the matter through talks.

“We have decided to postpone the takeover of gurdwaras in Haryana, provided talks on the issue between SGPC members from Punjab and Haryana begin by November 10 and some concrete solution is reached by November 20,’’ said Jhinda.

The HSGPC had given a one-month ultimatum to the Haryana government and the Centre on September 7 at its rally in Karnal to create a separate SGPC for Haryana, warning that otherwise they would take control of gurdwaras in the state.

Welcoming the postponement of the HSGPC move to take over control of gurdwaras in Haryana, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said it has come as a big relief to everyone. “I welcome the move. We can sit and talk in a cordial atmosphere now,’’ said Makkar, when contacted.

Didar Singh Nalvi, general secretary of the HSGPC, said talks were welcome, but the two sides must arrive at some conclusion by November 20 or else tension could brew again.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said confrontation never solved any problem, but peaceful talks could. “The Haryana government has already constituted a committee headed by Agriculture Minister H.S. Chatha to seek the opinion of Sikhs of Haryana regarding formation of a separate SGPC for the state. The report of the committee is still awaited. Any decision in this regard will be taken on the basis of the aspirations of the Sikhs of Haryana,’’ said Hooda.