New Delhi, July 7 : Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday lambasted the Haryana Government over its decision to form a separate Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for the state.

"Since the Congress does not have any issue to fight elections on, they have taken up a religious issue," said Harsimrat.

Terming the SGPC as the 'mini-parliament of the Sikhs, Harsimrat said, "It is the authority which looks after our gurudwaras. It was enacted by an Act of the parliament. No political party has the right to interfere in our religion."

"Who (Congress) are they to decide if Sikh should live together or separately," she asked.

Harsimrat stressed that the Sikhs had got SGPC after lot of sacrifices, and added that like in Delhi where Sikhs were against Congress, they will be against them in Haryana too.

On Sunday, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had announced to form a separate Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for Haryana.

Hooda made this announcement in accordance with the aspirations of Sikhs of his state, while attending a Sikh conference at Kaithal. The Haryana government will present the bill for the same on July 11 in the assembly. (ANI)