Breaking News: Sikhs Clash With Dera Sucha Sauda Followers In Punjab, 12 Injured

SaRpAnCh · May 25, 2007

Whats the latest?

KFI · May 26, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptjcXwmkE48

Shaheed Bhai Kamaljeet Singh

khalsafauj.net COMING SOON!!

B4ND4 · May 26, 2007

Dera silence stalls peace bid

Prabhjot Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 25

Efforts for a peaceful settlement of the unsavoury dera controversy appear to have run into a stonewall with the dera leadership refusing to acknowledge any communication from the all-religion delegation led by Swami Agnivesh since last night.

Though the Supreme Court refused to intervene on two separate petitions moved by Dera Sacha Sauda against the edict of Akal Takht, Swami Agnivesh has reportedly written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and chairperson of the UPA Sonia Gandhi seeking their immediate intervention to prevent any confrontation between "premis" — followers of the dera — and the Sikh community.

Swami Agnivesh has given the entire background and efforts made by the all-religion delegation to end the sensitive controversy through dialogue between leaders of the Sikh community and the Sirsa-based dera.

He feels that any delay in intervention may be detrimental to peace and communal harmony in the region.

With the deadline given by the Akal Takht edict drawing near and the dera refusing to communicate any further with the all-religion delegation, the worries of the union government as well as the state governments of both Punjab and Haryana are multiplying every minute.

Swami Agnivesh says the "problem needs to be tackled urgently and immediately" as the edict of Akal Takht calls for the vacation of all deras of Sacha Sauda in Punjab by May 27. He wants the union government and the UPA to use their good offices to prevail upon the dera chief to tender an "unqualified apology" to assuage the hurt feelings of the Sikh community over his alleged "imitation of the 10th Sikh Guru" besides the replication of certain historic and sacred ceremonies like baptism.

Only last night, the dera had made it clear that it had neither sent any draft or message to either the all-religion delegation or Swami Agnivesh conveying its intention to tender an "unqualified apology".

Though Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and director-general of police N.P.S. Aulakh made categorical statements that life and property of all Punjabis would be secured and no one would be allowed to disturb peace in the state, the dera leadership continues to be apprehensive of the safety of its followers in Punjab.

The sudden halt in the peace efforts has come as a shock to both the Punjab government and the union government as both were hopeful that the all-religion delegation would work out a peaceful and acceptable solution to the controversy. While the Punjab government and the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal continue to hope that a peaceful solution would be worked out, the union government is expected to step up its own efforts to convince the dera leadership of the need for "defusing rather than aggravating the present crisis". The worry of the union government as well as the Punjab government also stems from the fact that a failure of the peace process would allow fundamentalists and hardcore elements among Sikh organisations to wrest the initiative from the moderate religious leadership.

Situation 'highly explosive'

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 25

Cautioning the Centre against any laxity in defusing the Dera crisis, the all-religion delegation has described the situation in Punjab as "highly explosive" saying that any further delay may disturb the peace in the whole country in general and Punjab in particular.

A letter written by Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh, on behalf of the delegation, has not only traced the history of the present unsavoury controversy but also appreciated the flexible and conciliatory approach of the Sikh leadership on the issue.

On the other hand, the Dera chief has resorted to dilatory tactics and refused to send back the draft of apology, sent to him by the delegation, the letter further said.

Copies of the letter were delivered to the Prime Ministers' Office, Home Ministry and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi by 6.30 this evening.

Swami Agnivesh explained that the all-religion delegation had visited the Dera Sacha Sauda and held a long meeting with the Dera chief to impress upon him the need for tendering an "unqualified apology" to defuse the crisis created by the Dera advertisements of May 13. In return the delegation had promised that once he tendered an apology, no action would be taken on the edict issued by Akal Takht against the Dera or its followers.

Swami Agnivesh said that now it was for the Centre to initiate action at its own level to prevent the situation from getting out of control. "Time is limited and immediate action is required," he suggested in the letter.

He also reminded of the unsavoury past experiences when Punjab had undergone a tough time. "Any delay in intervention now should not be at the cost of the peace in the country in general and Punjab in particular," the letter said. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janta Party, alliance partner of Akalis in Punjab, has reportedly asked its Haryana unit to play an active role in defusing the crisis. BJP president Rajnath Singh has directed the Haryana unit to take a delegation to the Dera Sacha Sauda chief to persuade him to tender an apology. The all-religion delegation may also meet representatives of the media in the union capital tomorrow to explain what had taken place, in an attempt to work out a peaceful solution to the problem.

Makkar, Vedanti talk dera matters

CM should stop using SGPC chief as his puppet, says Sarna

Varinder Walia/Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 25

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar today paid an unscheduled visit to the residence of Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti and held an in-camera meeting for about 15 minutes to discuss the Sikh-Sacha Sauda stand-off here today.

It is learnt that Jathedar Vedanti has handed over a list of the sub-committee comprising Makkar, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Parmjit Singh Sarna and Justice Kuldip Singh (retd), who would meet the President and the Prime Minister before May 30 for requesting them to expedite the CBI case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh. The proposed sub-committee was announced from the rostrum of Akal Takht on May 20 by Jathedar Vedanti.

It is believed that Jathedar of Akal Takht has told Makkar that the SGPC and the Akali Dal should lead the Sikh Panth against Dera Sacha Sauda and ensure implementation of the edict issued by the Sikh clergy on May 20.

Both, Jathedar Vedanti and the SGPC chief also discussed at length to form a penal of Sikh lawyers who would be responsible for fighting legal cases being filed by Dera Sacha Sauda in wake of the edict issued from Akal Takht for closing of all deras in the state by May 27.

Meanwhile, the DSGMC has taken a serious view of the "pulling up" of the SGPC chief by the Chief Minister. DSGMC chief Parmjit Singh Sarna said it was an attempt to denigrate the Shiromani Committee which was formed after making supreme sacrifices . He said Badal should stop using the SGPC chief as his "puppet."

Badal had told the SGPC chief to withdraw his statement that had further fueled the prevailing volatile atmosphere in the state over the dera issue. The Dal Khalsa today hit out at those who feel that "apology" by Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh would pacify the already hurt sentiments, emotions and pride of the Sikhs.

B4ND4 · May 26, 2007

80 families leave sect

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, May 25

More than 80 families, comprising about 325 members of Dera Sacha Sauda, today broke their ties with the dera at Mangwal, Chathe Sekhwan and Kammomajra villages near here.

As per information, about 50 families (150 followers) snapped their ties with the Sacha Sauda sect in a gurdwara at Mangwal village, about 2 km from here, and another 25 families (160 followers) followed suit in a gurdwara at Chathe Sekhwan village, at a distance of 6 km from here. Meanwhile, seven families (18 followers) also left the faction at Kammomajra village, about 3 km from here.

All dera followers, who today left the Sacha Sauda sect, were presented with 'siropas'. These dera followers had left the sect by stating that dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had insulted Sri Guru Gobind Singh by imitating. A large number of families from Cheema Mandi, Beer Kalan village, Sheron village, Jakhepal village and Sunam had earlier snapped their ties with the dera.

Harmindersingh · May 26, 2007

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/218200705261622.htm

Mediators to ask Akal Takht to extend deadline

New Delhi, May 26 (PTI): Religious leaders mediating to resolve the stand-off between Sikhs and the Dera Sacha Sauda sect will ask the Akal Takht to extend the May 27 deadline for vacating the Dera centres.

Swami Agnivesh, a key mediator, today said "the religious leaders would approach the Akal Takht to extend the deadline given to vacate the Deras."

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference on terrorism, he told reporters the purpose of the move was to avoid any more confrontation between the communities.

"We do not want any more loss of life or property," Agnivesh, a noted activist, said.

Agnivesh, however, criticised the Dera Sacha Sauda sect for its "inflexibility" in the matter. "Dera Sacha Sauda should be more flexible in its approach to find a solution," he said.

Agnivesh had yesterday said efforts to end the row were deadlocked as the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda had failed to get back to the mediators after they had sent an amended draft of a peace statement to it.

He also said it was "surprising and painful" the Dera has gone to the Supreme Court against the ultimatum by the highest temporal Sikh body at a time when they were holding discussions with the sect.

Agnivesh has also sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's immediate intervention to resolve the issue.