All-religion delegation strives for peace, meets SGPC chief

Amritsar, May 29 (UNI) The Sarv Dharam Sansad (all religion delegation), which is striving to bring about a rapprochement between the Sacha Sauda and the Akal Takht, today held a meeting with Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar.

The meeting, which lasted 40 minutes, was held at the official residence of the SGPC chief.

The all-religion delegation comprising Swami Agnivesh, Father Domince Emanuel, Jain Sadhvi Aruna and Maulana Jameel Ilyasi Ahmed reached here late last night. Jain Sadhvi Aruna joined the delegation at New Delhi yesterday in place of Jain Muni, who could not come due to certain pre-occuptaions.

The delegation will meet Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and other members of the Sikh clergy later in the day to discuss the apology tendered by the Dera for having hurt Sikh sentiments by its blasphemous imitation of Guru Gobind Singh.

Meanwhile, the meeting of the 'five Sikh high priests,' to be chaired by Giani Vedanti to discuss the apology offered by Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, is likely to commence soon at the Akal Takht. The clergy will also be holding discussions with the heads of various Sikh religious and social organisations after a meeting among themselves.

Referring to the meeting with the SGPC chief, Swami Agnivesh expressed satisfaction and claimed that it was held on a ''positive note''. According to the Swami, Jathedar Makkar told them that the five Sikh high priests had to decide on the Sacha Sauda apology and it was the duty of the SGPC to implement the decision of the Akal Takht.

Following the rejection of the apology by radical Sikh groups and the head of one of the Sikh Takhts yesterday, the Sarv Dharam Sansad 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 had stated yesterday.

Prior to their meeting with the SGPC chief, Maulana Jameel offered prayers at a local mosque, while Father Domince prayed at a church. Both prayed for the return of peace and communal harmony in the region, particularly Punjab.

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