Case against Dera chief can be reconsidered: Agnivesh

Chandigarh, Jun 7 (UNI) Social activist Swami Agnivesh, who mediated between the Dera Sacha Sauda and the Sikh clergy, today said there was a possibility that the criminal case against the Dera chief for allegedly imitating Guru Gobind Singh could be reconsidered.

''We will try our efforts in this direction and there is a possibility that the case against the Dera chief could be reconsidered,'' he said while talking to reporters here.

The Swami said Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had exprssed apprehension during his talks with the Sarv Dharm Sansad delegation that the case against him could be pursued even after he tendered an apology for the alleged blasphemous act.

A case was registered against the Dera chief in Bathinda for hurting the religious sentiments of Sikh community under Section 295 A of the IPC Swami Agnivesh said though the conflict between the Dera and the Sikh clergy was over, a lot more needed to be done to continue the peace process further.

''We cannot stop here. The peace process must continue and we will like the two sides to come closer,'' he said.

He asserted that the amicable resolution of the Dera Sacha Sauda issue was a ''befitting reply'' to the ''extremist forces'' trying to take mileage out of the issue.

''It has been proved beyond doubt by the people of Punjab that the extremist forces would not be allowed to raise their heads again in the state,'' he said.

He expressed the hope that some radical outfits still trying to aggravate the issue would not be able to disturb the peace and harmony in the state.

To a question, Swami Agnivesh observed that there was some provocation from the Dera which led to the confrontation. ''They did some drama imitating the tenth Guru and then put out an advertisement in the papers too.'' UNI MA MMS1829