Akal Takht rejects ''regret'' of Dera Sacha Sauda

Amritsar, May 20 (UNI) The Akal Takht, the highest spiritual and temporal seat of the Sikhs, today rejected the 'regret' offered by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for having hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.

After a hectic three-hour meeting at the Akal Takht here, the Sikh clergy outrightly rejected the ''regret'' offered by the Baba and gave a call for a Punjab bandh on May 22 to protest against the activities of the Dera that had hurt Sikh sentiments.

The Dera chief had yesterday expressed ''regret'' over the advertisement published in a newspaper depicting him in the attire of tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.

The meeting of the clergy, with representatives of various Sikh social and religious organisations, also decided to meet the state Governor on May 30 and present a memorandum to him, demanding the arrest of the Sacha Sauda chief.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vidanti presided over the meeting.

UNI