3 min readLudhianaNov 8, 2015 03:46 AM IST
First published on: Nov 8, 2015 at 03:43 AM IST
Sukhbir Badal during the meeting with members of the Sant Samaj at Nanaksar near Jagraon. (Express Photo)
DEPUTY Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal held a closed-door meeting with the Nanaksar Sant Samaj at the sect’s gurdwara in Jagraon on Saturday, the day another desecration incident was reported in the district.
The meeting was attended by the Nanaksar Kaleran head Sant Lakha Singh, Sant Ghala Singh, Sant Harbhajan Singh and other high-priests including Giani Karnail Singh Gareeb and Baba Inderpal Singh. Sukhbir was accompanied by Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon.
Over the past few days, the deputy chief minister has been meeting Sikh priests in view of the coming Sarbat Khalsa, called for November 10 by radical groups. His meetings are being viewed as an attempt to pacify the high priests and draw away support for the Sarbat Khalsa.
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Sources at the meeting told The Sunday Express that the three top Nanaksar priests, Lakha Singh, Ghala Singh and Harbhajan Singh, made it clear to the deputy chief minister that the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib was unacceptable and urged him to ensure all accused are arrested.
“Sant Lakha Singh even told the deputy CM that the Sikh community will not be pacified till all those responsible are behind bars. He even said that police should handover these people to the sangat,” a source said.
Speaking to The Sunday Express after the meeting, Lakha Singh said: “It is highly unfortunate that sensing the deputy CM’s visit, some mischievous elements again dishonoured Guru Granth Sahib today. I discussed today’s incident also with him. We told him that government should put all their resources and police intelligence to arrest the culprits at the earliest. He also assured us that no innocent person will be harassed”.
Lakha Singh further told Sukhbir that the government and SGPC should get CCTV cameras installed in village gurdwaras. “We told them that we want CCTVs to be installed in each gurdwara and also panchayat/gurdwara management committees be told that they will be held responsible if desecrations are reported from their village. He said that work to install CCTVs will start soon,” Lakha Singh said.
Farmers protest
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had to face the wrath of farmers as he landed in Moga following his Jagraon meeting on Saturday. At Lopo, where he met Sant Jagjit Singh, police diverted the route of the deputy CM’s cavalcade as farmers holding black flags sat on protest. Even after the diversion, however, farmers managed to reach the other route. The protest was led by Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and their district president Saudagar Singh Khaai said farmers will not stop following the deputy until their demands are met.
After Lopo village, deputy CM went to Badni Kalan where he spent close to an hour with Sant Zora Singh. His third meeting with Sikh priests at Gurdwara Nanaksar Sant Samadh Bhai in Moga was cancelled after radical groups and Aam Aadmi Party workers blocked the route and protested with black flags.
Sources in the Moga police confirmed to The Sunday Express that farmers were detained by the Badni Kalan police and released later.
Sukhbir Badal during the meeting with members of the Sant Samaj at Nanaksar near Jagraon. (Express Photo)
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