Badal promises action against Sacha Sauda head

Mohali, June 19 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today assured Sikhs that action would be taken against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh for his blasphmeous imitation of Guru Gobind Singh.

The Chief Minister gave this assurance to a delegation of the 'Sant Samaj', a conglomeration of a number of Sikh religious and political groups at a meeting here. The Chief Minister came here from Chandigarh to meet the delegation, which was proceeding to the Union Territory to court arrest.

The 'Sant Samaj' had given an ultimatium to the Punjab government to arrest the Dera chief till June 18. As the government had failed to meet their demand, the 'Sant Samaj' decided to take out a protest march from Fathegarh Sahib to Chandigarh, where they were to court arrest.

During his meeting with the delegation, Mr Badal said ''Action will be taken against Ram Raheem as ''per law'', The state police have already registered a case against the Dera head and have even sought arrest warrants from a court in Bathinda.'' The Chief Minister told the delegation that he was equally concerned about the anti-Sikh activities of the Dera chief.

Prior to the march, leaders of the 'Sant Samaj' assembled at historical Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib demanding action against Ram Rahim Singh for his 'blasphemous act'. The police took precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident.

The police had arranged tear-gas guns besides anti-rioting squads were also deputed at various places. A number of radical leaders including Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa, SAD (Amritsar) Senior Vice President Daljit Singh Bittu and Dal Khalsa General Secretary Kanwar Pal Singh were also present during the meeting.

The 'Sant Samaj' activists led by Harnam Singh Khalsa later moved in a convoy of vehicles to the state capital to court arrest.

Talking to mediapersons, Harnam Singh Khalsa said ''we will adopt peaceful measures to lodge protest.'' He reiterated the Sant Samaj demand for immediate arrest of Dera head and closure of all its branches in Punjab.

The Sikhs had already given enough time to the governments of both Punjab and Haryana to take action against the Dera chief. In case no action was taken the Sant Samaj would decide the next line of action in accordance with the prevailing circumstances, Mr Khalsa added.

UNI