‘Stay away from dera followers’

The five Sikh high priests,who met at the Akal Takht to discuss important issues confronting the panth,appealed to the Sikhs to keep no alliance,social or political with Sacha Sauda followers,also called premis.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh,who chaired the meet,also said that if dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh sought unconditional apology from the Akal Takht,they would hold a meeting to consider his request. Meanwhile,SAD (Panch Pardhani),headed by Daljit Singh Bittu,called for a meeting of like-minded parties at Damdama Sahib in Bathinda on March 8,saying that the Sikh clergy has failed to strongly act against the dera.

“The hukamnama banning dera activities should be implemented in letter and spirit,” said Giani Gurbachan Singh. The statement from the highest temporal seat of Sikhs has come in the wake of recent statement by SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar,asking all political leaders,especially the Akali Dal,to keep no social ties with premis. He had said that candidates should not resort to canvassing among them.

Jathedars also said that the dera chief should avoid using the Sikh symbol ‘Ik Onkar’,as he was working against the interests of the panth. The Sikh clergy said they had received complaints of BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu participating in the religious function of Ashutosh Maharaj,organised by BJP Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla last week.

“We have received complaints from various Sikh bodies. We will discuss the matter in the next meeting. I feel that Sidhu,being a devout Sikh,should have avoided taking part in the function addressed by Nurmahal-based baba,against whom the Takht had issued an edict,” said Giani Gurbachan.

Apart from him,Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh,Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib Tarlochan Singh,Golden Temple Head Granthi Jaswinder Singh and Granthi Jagtar Singh attended the meet.

They said the meeting was convened following the ban on a Sikh religious function at Chandpur in Fatehabad by the Haryana government last week. “We have unanimously decided that the governments should keep gurdwaras out

of the purview when Section 144 is imposed,” said the Sikh clergy.

The high priests said Chawla should also have avoided organising Ashutosh’s function. “Akalis have political alliance with the BJP,but there is no religious alliance in force. Chawla’s act has hurt the feelings of Sikhs,” said the Takht chief,adding that he would ask Sidhu to appear at the Takht and apologise for his “misconduct”.

On separate gurdwara panel in Haryana,he said there was no need for it,as the SGPC was already managing the affairs of the shrines.

“We have summoned Haryana panel (ad hoc) chief Jagdish Singh Jhinda to appear before the Takht within a fortnight to explain why he was seeking a separate body,” said Giani Gurbachan.