All religion delegation asks Akal Takht to accept apology

Amritsar, May 28 (UNI) With the radical Sikh groups and the head of one of the Sikh Takhts 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 but in the larger interest of peace in the country and religious tolerance, it becomes imperative to be magnanimous and overlook certain shortcomings'', a statement issued by the Sarv Dharam Sansad after an emergency meeting at New Delhi today said.

At the meeting the contents of the 'mafinama' were discussed and 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 as ''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 available 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 of its chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh''.

The members of the delegation had on May 22 visited the Dera headquarters at Sirsa and 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.

Meanwhile, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh has termed the apology as an attempt by the Dera to ''mislead the Sikh community and lower the dignity of the Akal Takht''. The apology should have been signed and addressed to the Sikh 'sangat' (community) and should have come from an individual, Jathedar Balwant Singh, who will be attending the meeting of the Sikh clergy tomorrow said.

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 called for an unconditional apology.

Meanwhile, the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vidanti refused to comment on the apology offered stating 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 the Dera Chief in two murder cases.

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UNI