SGPC for strigent laws to check blasphemous religious acts

Fatehgarh Sahib, May 31 (UNI) The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today launched an agitation against the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, demanding that stringent laws be framed to check blasphemous acts against any religion.

''As section 295 A of IPC attracts mild punishment, therefore provision for stringent punishments be made in law so that no one should dare play in the future with the religious sentiments of other communities,'' copies of the memorandum submitted to the representatives of the Governors of Punjab and Haryana by the SGPC here stated.

A copy of the memorandum, highlighting the 'anti-Sikh and anti religious activities of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, was also faxed to President A P J Abdul Kalam.

The memoranda to the Governors of the two states were submitted by SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar here after participating in an anti-Sacha Sauda religious march.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and heads of other Takhts were also present at Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup, where a religious function was held. Earlier, an anti-Sacha Sauda one-km-long march was organised from Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara to Jyoti Sarup.

Alleging blasphemous imitation of Guru Gobind Singh and Sikh tenets by Ram Raheem, the SGPC pointed out that such an offence is merely chargeable under Section 295 A of IPC. Punishment under this section for such a ''serious offence'' was too mild, the memorandum claimed.

The SGPC further demanded that the Dera chief be prohibited from ''misusing'' religious symbols or misrepresentating and distorting scriptures of other religions, including Sikhism.

''Furthermore, he should be forbidden from the use of prefix ''Sacha Sauda'', a term which has noble and sacred association with Guru Nanak,'' the memorandum stated. Blasphmeous interpretation of religions endangers the peace and prosperity of India.

MORE UNI