SGPC withdraws agitation after the arrest of main accused

Amritsar, Aug 24 (UNI) Expressing happiness on the arrest of main accused in the hair chopping of a Sikh boy in Jaipur, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) says it has withdrawn the agitation over the issue.

The main accused, Arjun Meena, was arrested at a Delhi Airport today by the Rajasthan police.

According to the SGPC sources here, the Committee was ''satisfied'' with the actions taken by the Rajasthan government over the issue and believed that ''exemplary'' punishment will be given to the culprits.

The SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar along with commentator MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and many eminent Sikh citizens met Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in Jaipur yesterday.

They were briefed about the action taken by Rajasthan like the suspension of two policemen, including the incharge of Gandhi Nagar police station, for dereliction of duty. Ms Raje also assured them of all possible help and stern action against the accused.

The arrest has relatively brought down tempers and pacified the Sikh community here, which was agitated as hair chopping is considered to be the highest insult to their religion.

Gurmeet Singh, secretary, Sikh Samaj said,''We are satisfied that the government has listened to our plead and has taken prompt action. We also thank all the other communities Brahman Samaj, Jains and others who stood by us in this crisis''.

However, SAD (Amritsar) led by Simaranjit Singh Mann has strongly criticised the ''compromise'' reached by the SGPC and refused to accept its decision to withdraw the agitation.

''The SGPC chief is a puppet in the hands of the RSS. How can he claim to represent the entire Sikh community,'' Harbir Singh Sandhu, the Secretary of the party today said.

Meanwhile, the Bandh call given by Sikh activists agitated over the incident today evoked mixed response in the holy city of Amritsar while a report from Ferozepur said agitators blocked traffic for over an hour near Udham Singh Chawk over the issue.

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