Haryana Sikhs endorse Akal Takht decision: Jhinda

Kaithal, June 29 (UNI) Sikhs of Haryana have endorsed the Akal Takht decision of rejecting the apology tendered by Sacha Sauda Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Jagdish Singh Jhinda said today.

While addressing a press conference here, Mr Jhinda said the language and the manner of the letter sent to the Akal Takht showed it was not tendered with a ''clear heart''.

He demanded that the Baba now offer himself for arrest in view of the warrants issued by a Panjab court against him.

Mr Jhinda also took strong exception to the decision of calling a Sarbat Khalsa at Ratia town of Haryana on July 11 saying that it seemed to have been taken ''under political pressure'' and appealed for the review of this decision.

He said that Sarbat Khalsa should be called at any Takht and not at a town like Ratia which was neither a historical town nor had any connection with Sikh history.

On the formation of separate HSGPC, Mr Jhinda expressed the hope that a separate management body for Sikh shrines in the state would be constituted on the basis of the report of the H S Chatha committee formed by the Haryana government.

He said that they were seeking appointment with the Prime minister Manmohan Singh to seek his intervention for constitution of separate HGSPC at the earliest.

''Such a body will be able to manage sikh shrines in the state independently and work for spreading Sikh religion and culture and look after educational institutions,'' he said.

He also accused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee of failing to promote the interests of Sikh community and becoming a tool in the hands of Panjab political leaders.

Mr Jhinda also stressed that Sikhs of Haryana had full respect for Akal Takht and would continue to hold the seat in high esteem.

UNI