Deadlock continues in Sacha Sauda controversy

Amritsar, May 23 (UNI) Even as the Punjab Government struggles to maintain peace and harmony in Punjab, the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) today asserted that they stood by the ''public apology'' demand from the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, who had hurt Sikh sentiments by projecting himself as Guru Gobind Singh.

''I have not received any communication from the 'Sarv Dharam Delegation' about the stand of the Dera on the demand of the Akal Takht,'' Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, the head of the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs said, while talking to mediapersons after presiding over a meeting of Sikh intellectuals at his office here today.

''I will only be in a position to decide after knowing the stand of the Dera as conveyed to the Delegation'', he said while pointing out that the Delegation was to meet him today but had not yet arrived. He however praised the efforts of the 'Sarv Dharam' delegation in trying to find a solution to the controversy that flared after Sacha Sauda supporters clashed with Sikhs of different organisations at Bathinda on May 14.

The Delegation had met Ram Raheem at the headquarters of the Sacha Sauda at Sirsa yesterday in a bid to solve the issue and bring peace in Punjab, which witnessed a total 'bandh' yesterday on a call given by the Akal Takht.

Social activist Swami Agnivesh who was part of the Delegation had claimed that a breakthrough in the Sacha Sauda imbroglio had been achieved by the all religion delegation during its talks with Dera Chief.

''A mutually acceptable solution to both sides would be worked out soon,'' Swami Agnivesh had said after the deliberations with the Dera chief last night. He had claimed that both the sides had softened their stand which had given a hope for a solution of the conflict between the Sikh clergy and the dera Sacha Sauda.

Though Swami Agnivesh did not disclose whether the dera chief had agreed to apologise for his alleged act of projecting himself as Guru Gobind Singh, he said modalities of an agreement were being worked out.

The Takht had demanded an apology from the Sacha Sauda Chief for his ''blasphemous'' act. The Dera had earlier refused to apologise and maintained that it had already expressed regrets over the issue.

The other members of the delegation are Jain Muni, Lokesh Parkash, Maulana Jamal Ahmed Ilyasi and Father Phillip. The delegation is now expected to reach here tomorrow to meeting the Akal Takht head.

MORE UNI