The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee on Sunday described private pilgrimages to Pakistan as violative of the religious authority of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee which at present holds no control of Sikh historical shrines there. Reiterating his censure on his political opponents for having proposed a pilgrimage to Pakistan, DSGMC Chief Avtar Singh urged the Sikhs not to make any religious tour to that country till its military junta disbanded the Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and re-transferred the management of Sikh historical shrines there to the SGPC of Amritsar. ''I appeal to the faithfuls to show their respect for the SGPC, one of the highest and widely recognised institutes of the Sikh religion, and boycott such private pilgrimage proposals till Pakistan shifts control of our shrines to the SGPC of India,'' he said.

''Besides, such short-sighted proposals -- which overlook the present diplomatic situation between the two countries -- do not stand in the larger interest of the Sikh community,'' he added. Mr Avtar reiterated his request to the Centre to take up with the Pakistani government the issue of the re-transfer of Sikh shrines to the SGPC. ''Visiting Indian-controlled gurdwaras in Pakistan under the official banner (of the SGPC) will, in every sense, be a rewarding religious trip for Sikhs,'' he said.

The DSGMC head, a staunch loyalist of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, also vowed to tighten money management of his committee which he took over on may 12 from political rival Paramjeet Singh Sarna of the Gurcharan Singh Tohra camp. ''Stern legal action will be taken against those who are found guilty of having misused DSGMC funds -- reports of which we are receiving in bulk. We have come to know that a number of fake purchases have been made in the last year even as serious irregularities were brought to light in the DSGMC's printing section alone,'' he said. Bureau Report