New Delhi: Dera violence rocks Lok Sabha

New Delhi, May 17: The clashes between the followers of a sect and the Sikh community in various parts of the country found echo in the Lok Sabha today, with Home Minister Shivraj Patil giving a categorical assurance that the guilty will be punished. The issue was raised during Zero Hour by Akali leaders, led by Dr Ratan Singh Ajnala, who sought the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Mr Ajnala accused the Dera head of projecting himself as Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, which had deeply hurt the Sikh sentiments throughout the world.

This had resulted in clashes between the followers of the Dera and Sikhs in Punjab and other states, including Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Jammu.

The Akali leader accused the Congress party of fanning the trouble in Punjab, in a manner similar to what it had done two decades ago by inciting clashes between Sikhs and Nirankaris, another sect.

Replying to the points raised by the Akali leaders, Mr Patil said the Sikh Gurus were revered not only by the community, but also by adherents of other religions.

Mr Patil said he had already spoken in this regard to the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana and asked them to tackle the situation in an effective manner and in accordance with the law.

The Home Minister, however, appealed to all not to use provocative language against any individual or party.

Mr Ajnala, who spoke in Punjabi, got support from other NDA members. However, when he hurled accusations at the Congress party, the Treasury Benches raised loud protests. At one point, Ms Parneet Kaur, wife of former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, and Mr Lal Singh, an MP from Jammu and Kashmir, came protesting right to the front benches of the Treasury.

The House witnessed uproarious scenes for nearly ten minutes during the raising of the issue.

UNI

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