Akali delegation demands ban on Baba Ram Rahim in Mah

Mumbai, Jun 24 (UNI) A delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal, led by its President and MP Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal, today demanded a ban on the entry of Dera Sachcha Sauda sect chief Baba Ram Rahim in Maharashtra, saying he was not only hurting the sentiments of Sikh community but of other religions also.

The delegation called on Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir at Raj Bhavan here and urged him that the guilty be prosecuted and members of the community be given protection.

The delegation also met Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who assured them that no innocent Sikh would be subjected to any punishment in connection with the violence that took place at Mulund and its nearby areas on Saturday after a bodyguard of the controversial Baba fired at Balkar Singh, a protestor who had gathered along with members of the community at Nirmal Lifestyle mall there on Friday night, killing him on the spot.

Mr Badal told both the Governor and Chief Minister that the sentiments of the Sikh community has been hurt with the 'brutal' killing of the protestor, an official release said here today.

The delegation members also told them that the agitation by members of the Sikh community was an ''emotional protest'' and therefore, cases against all the protestors, who have been detained by the police, be withdrawn.

The delegation also requested that adequate compensation be given to the family of Balkar Singh and his kin be given a job.

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