SGPC to continue peaceful crusade against 'Deras': Makkar

Fatehgarh Sahib, Jun 12 (UNI) Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar today said that the SGPC wanted to root out the 'deras' by peaceful means.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Makkar said the SGPC was motivating the masses to boycott the 'deras' and was confident that such places would soon close down in Punjab due to lack of following.

''The SGPOC neither had the intention nor the need to forcibly get the Deras closed down in Punjab. The SGPC would propagate the message of Sikhism and bring the Sikhs back into its fold,'' Mr Makkar asserted.

He, however, stressed that the SGPC was bound to implement the directives of the 'Akal Takht' and would continue to hold peaceful protest programmes against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim.

He said that a committee of lawyers would be finalised within two days to strongly contest cases against the Dera chief.

Mr Makkar also said that World Sikh University project would be soon started at Fatehgarh Sahib.

UNI