Gurdwara President Pledges Unity

Mr Randhawa, 69, who has lived in Southall for 49 years and ran a number of restaurants in the area, said: "It's a great privilege, and also a great responsibility, to be president of this Gurdwara.

"But it was not solely my choice to be president, it was the choice of the congregation and it is them that we serve."

"Over the last few years there was some difference of opinion in the Sikh community
but now we want to encourage unity."

Mr Randhawa, along with vice-president Sohan Singh Sumra, said the committee's main priority will be to continue working on the Sikh school currently under construction in Norwood Hall, a scheme initiated under previous president Himmat Singh Sohi.

Mr Sumra said: "Our next priority is to bring the community together, not just Sikh but non-Sikhs. We want everyone to play a part and use the knowledge of the whole community."

Both men said the committee will draught a new constitution within the next six months, which will benefit both opposition groups and neighbouring gurdwaras in the region.

It is also reducing charges for use of Gurdwaras facilities and focussing on sub-committees for youth as well as education.

Mr Sumra said: "We want to make sports a high priority and give young people as much as possible to keep them occupied so they are not distracted by crime.

"Regarding crime and drug abuse, we want to play a part with local police and the community in solving these problems.

"Our aim and objective is to promote harmony and partnership among all communities rather than serve the interests of any one individual."

Mr Randhawa said the whole community is invited to attend an event on Sunday October 26, when Sikhs will celebrate 300 years of the inauguration of their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

A procession will begin at Havelock at 11am and end at Park Avenue at 4pm.

Ealier this month more than 7,000 people turned out to vote for the Gurdwara committee, which will oversee management of the Havelock Road temple and its facilities for the next two years.