Akal Takht must accept apology: Religion delegation

Amritsar, May 28: With the redical Sikh groups rejecting the apology offered by Dera Sacha Sauda, the Sarv Dharam Sansad (All religion delegation) appealed to the Akal Takht to accept the 'mafinama' (apology) despite the fact that its tone was "not graceful".

"The tone and tenor of the apology does not seem to be graceful and yet in the larger interest of peace in the country and religious tolerance it becomes imperative to be magnanimous and to overlook certain shortcomings", a statement issued by the Sarv Dharam Sansad after an emergency meeting at New Delhi today stated.

At the meeting the contents of the 'mafinama' were discussed and after lengthy deliberations it was decided that the delegation would leave for Amritsar tonight to meet the Sikh High Priests who are scheduled to meet at the Akal Takht here tomorrow to discuss the apology tendered by the Dera for having hurt Sikh sentiments by its blasphemous imitation of Guru Gobind Singh.

"Though we realise the anxiety caused due to the unnecessary and avoidable delay on behalf of the Dera and the tone and tenor of the apology, but still we request it be accepted", the statement made avaliable to mediapersons here said.

During their meeting with the Sikh clergy tomorrow, the all religion delegation would urge the Akal Takht to accept the apology tendered by the "Dera on behalf its chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh".

The members of the delegation had on May 22 visited the Dera headquarters at Sirsa and had urged Ram Raheem to tender an unconditional apology for the amicable settlement to the standoff between the Dera and the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs.

The members of the delegation who attended the meeting at New Delhi included Swami Agnivesh, Father Domince Emanuel, Jain Muni and Maulana Jameel Ilyasi Ahmed.

The Dera had in the larger interests of humanity and to bring peace and harmony in the region had yesterday tendered an apology to the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.

The unsigned apology of the Dera came after the Akal Takht had rejected the 'regret' offered by it earlier and had called for an unconditional apology.

Meanwhile the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vidanti refused to comment on the apology offered and said that it would be discussed tomorrow at the meeting of the Singh Sahibs. He however said that he had not formally received a copy of the apology.

The Jathedar said that the programmes issued by the Akal Takht, including a march on May 31 by heads of various Sikh religious organisations from Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh for submitting memorandums against the anti-Sikh policies of the Dera stood. The memorandums are to be submitted to the Punjab and Haryana Governors.

The Jathedar has also formed a committee which will meet the Prime Minister on May 30 to urge him to expedite the onging CBI inquiries against Ram Raheem in two murder cases.

The apology by the Dera head has invited sharp reactions with the radical Sikh groups outrightly rejecting it. The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandik Committee (SGPC) has not yet reacted to the apology and is obviously waiting for the stand of the clergy. Commenting on the apology, former Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh felt that "it was not an apology but a simple unsigned press note". As per Sikh tenets an apology should be addressed to the Akal Takht or the Jathedar", he pointed out while refering to apologies offered in the past.

"The Akal Takht now has to clarify whether the Sikh clergy will go to Sirsa to accept or reject the apology or whether the Dera would appear before the Takht", he said. Bhai Ranjit Singh went a step further and alleged that mediators of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had been interfering in the entire issue.

The Damdami Taksal and the Dal Khalsa also outrightly rejected the apology and said that it had not been tendered as per Sikh 'maryada' (traditions).

The apology by the Dera was expected to assauge hurt Sikh feeings and bring about peace and harmony in the region, particularly Punjab which had witnessed sectarian violence in last 10 days and a peaceful 'bandh' on May 22 demanding the arrest of Ram Raheem for having hurt Sikh sentiments. The act of the Dera head had also led to a registeration of a case against him under section 295A of the IPC at Bathinda on the instructions of the Punjab government.

However despite the apology coming from the Dera, the Punjab government continues to be on high alert following rejection of the apology by radical groups. Punjab government officials at Chandigarh stated that security forces would continue with the onging security drill to protect Sacha Sauda centers and Sikh gurdwaras and check any form of violence.

In the apology the Dera had stated " neither could anyone equate himself to Guru Gobind Singh, nor could think of equating himself with the great Guru". The Dera had expressed concern at the "sad' turn of events in the last couple of days and had in the larger interests of humanity asked for forgiveness from Guru Gobind Singh.

The Dera has expressed the hope that peace and harmony would now prevail in Punjab, Haryana and other parts of the country and abroad.

UNI

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