BJP leader, 2 others booked for farmer’s death
Chandigarh, October 10: With the exoneration of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh by the Akal Takht for committing the blasphemous act of having attired like Guru Gobind Singh turning into albatross around the neck of the Akali leadership, Akali Dal President and Deputy Chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today had a long interaction with the Akali members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee who are members of the general house under suspended animation.
Also present included SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Manjit Singh GK.
Sukhbir tried to impress upon them to convince the people about the decision taken by the Akal Takht, the supreme institution of the Sikhs.
It may be mentioned that the reaction among the common Sikhs against this unconditional exoneration is so strong that the high priests have been provided extra-security while they have stopped their public appearance. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh was conspicuous by his absence from the function that is organized yesterday like every year at the supreme seat to commemorate the martyrdom of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha, the assassins of retired army chief A S Vaidya.
Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Mal Singh was attacked recently by a young man to give vent his ire against him.
The SGPC members were told to fan out with the message about the supremacy of Akal Takht and that the exoneration was aimed at ending bitterness on this issue in the state in general and the Malwa region in particular.
What has angered the Sikhs is that similar plea by Dera Sacha Sauda chief was rejected by the Akal Takht in 2007 and what happened in the state thereafter resulted in vertical division among the people, especially in the Malwa countryside.
Sukhbir had met two vocal members of the SGPC yesterday who have publicly questioned the decision of the high priests. They include SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and its executive committee member Karnail Singh Panjoli. Both told Sukhbir in unambiguous terms that the procedure adopted in this case was wrong and they would continue to oppose it.
