Mumbai incident: Amarinder appeals for peace in Punjab

Chandigarh, June 22 (UNI) Former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh today appealed people to maintain peace and communal harmony in the state in the aftermath of the killing of a member of the Sikh community by a bodyguard of Sirsa-based Dera Sachcha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Raheem Singh in Mumbai on Friday night.

''All political leaders, irrespective of their political affiliations should help in maintaining peace in the state'', he said at a press conference here while supporting a similar appeal made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

When pointed out that an apology by the Dera Sachcha chief at the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, could be the solution to bring to an end the to Dera-Sikh conflict, Capt Singh said, ''if there is such a precondition, there is no harm in tendering an apology at the Akal Takht.'' The Akal Takht had called for a boycott of the Dera chief after he failed to apologise before the highest temporal seat for hurting the Sikhs sentiments during a religious ceremony at Bathinda district in May last year. The Takht had clearly stated that the Baba could only be forgiven if he apologised at the Akal Takht.

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