The Khalsa Chetna March begins amid tight security

Moga, June 24: Hundreds of Sikh activists today began the much-publicised 120 km Khalsa march with great enthusiasm from Gurdwara Zafar Nama Dina Sahib here to Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo in neighbouring Bathinda district amid tight security to press for their demand for the arrest of Dera Sacha head Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly hurting Sikh religious sentiments.

At least 2000 Sikh devotees assembled at 1115 hrs at Gurdwara Zafar Nama Dina Sahib for the 'ardas' after which at least 200 vehicle-strong calvacade carrying the leaders and representatives of various parties left for Damdama Sahib, led by Panj Payaras and a decorated tractor trolly carrying the 'Palki' with holy Guru Granth Sahib.

According to the organisers, with whom the administration held several meetings, the march was purely a religious one and a 'symbolic reply the ''sacrilegious act of Dera Sacha Sauda head in trying to emulate the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh''.

The march was being organised by the Khalsa action Committee, a group represented by hardline and moderate sikh organisations including Sant Samaj, Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar , Shiromani Akali Ravinder Singh (1920) set up to counter ''the Dera Sacha Sauda threat and to implement the edict of Akal Takht''.

Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, acting Akal Takht Jathedar, Daljit Singh Bittu co-convenor Khalsa Action Committee, Bhai Mohkam Singh, spokesman Damdami Taksal, Gurdeep Singh Bathinda General Secretary Akali Dal 1920, Sant Buta Singh, Karnail Singh Panjoli, Kanwarpal Singh Khalsa, Harinder Singh ex MP Norway were prominent among those who joined the march.

Daljit Singh Bittu and Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode alleged that though a consesus had been arrived on the route late last night with the Inspector General Police M K Tiwari and they had assured the administration that it would be a peaceful affair, still the police put up numerous 'nakas', (police check post) causing incovenience to the participants.

The Punjab police even put up nakas in Jagraon area and at Harike bridge and thoroughly checked people from Majha and other parts which delayed the procession, they said.

However, police officials observed that 'nakas' were erected simply to check undesirable element's entry with weapons and denied allegations that people were harassed at nakas.

Meanwhile, Convenor of Khalsa Action Committee and President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Committee Paramjit Singh Sarna, who was instrumental in getting an appology letter from Gurdwara Sacha Sauda head for Akal Takht, was conspicuous by his absence in the March.

Before the start of the march, almost all the speakers appealed to participants not to raise any slogan in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib in the palki, not to carry any firearms and to maintain peace, as requested by the administration.

According to sources, the organisers also agreed to call the march Khalsa Chetna March instead of Khalsa march on the request of the administration. However, they refused to avoid Salabatpur and insisted on marching past the main Dera Sacha Sauda Centre in Punjab.

In view of this, the Inspector General Police M K Tiwari, along with other officials had conducted a survey of the area to ensure that the march passes off peacefully.

More than 4,000 police and para military forces personnel were deployed, he said.

UNI

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