Date:24/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/24/stories/2007052408511200.htm

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Dera premises will be vacated by May 27, says SGPC chief

Staff Correspondent

Why was there violence only in Congress-ruled States on Tuesday: Minister

SGPC criticises Dera chief's activities

Warns Congress against encouraging the Dera

CHANDIGARH : President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Avtar Singh Makkar has said that the edict from the Akal Takht, on vacation of all premises of the Dera Sacha Sauda by May 27, would be carried out in letter and in spirit.

Accepting the proclamation from the Takht was the prime duty of every believer in the Sikh Panth, legal provisions notwithstanding, he told reporters on Wednesday after presiding over an emergency meeting of the SGPC executive in the Golden Temple complex.

In a resolution, the committee criticised the activities of the Dera chief, Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who has been accused of dressing like Guru Gobind Singh, tenth Sikh guru, and lampooning rituals, especially those related to baptism.

The committee warned the Congress against encouraging the Dera to indulge in acts that hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. Mr. Makkar said that the refusal by the Dera chief to tender an apology indicated that the events at the Salabatpura village and the subsequent developments, including the beating up of protesters by the `Premis' (followers of the Dera), were part of a design to disturb peace and harmony in Punjab.

Jathedar of the Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti welcomed the efforts of rapprochement initiated by a delegation of religious heads led by social activist Swami Agnivesh. The delegation, which includes Jain cleric Lokesh Prakashm, Father Phillip and Maulana Jamil Ahmed Illyasi, is holding discussions with Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and Dera's management.

Minister for Information and Public Relations Bikram Singh Majithia, in a statement, demanded a high level probe to find out why there were violent incidents during Tuesday's bandh only in Congress ruled States, especially Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, when it was peaceful in Punjab.

Notorious pattern

Alleging a notorious pattern in these incidents, Mr. Majithia appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up the issue with the Chief Ministers of the two States.