Cm, Sukhbir Visit Dera Sachkhand

[Azaad]

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, along with his son Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and the SGPC chief, today visited Dera Sachkhand to express grief on the death of Sant Ramanand, who was killed in a firing incident in Vienna recently.

After paying obeisance at the Dera, the Badals had a closed-door meeting with sect leaders in which, it is learnt, that Dera leaders demanded the immediate release of those who were arrested for arson and rioting after the Vienna incident.

Interacting with mediapersons later on, Badal said a committee, headed by Divisional Commissioner SR Ladhar and Inspector-General (Zonal) Sanjeev Kalra, would review all cases in which arrests were made after violence rocked the city and its vicinity.

“I have come here to condole the death of Sant Ramanand and condemn the attack on Dera head Sant Niranjan Das in Vienna. The attack on the sants was a cowardly act and an attempt to disturb the hard-earned peace of Punjab,” he added.

Asked when the body of Sant Ramanand would be flown back to the Dera, the CM said he was in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs on the issue and added that a state funeral would be held for the deceased.

Badal also lauded the role of Dera leaders for restoring peace in the state, following violent protests by its followers.

Commenting on the increasing racial attacks on Indian students (a majority of whom are Punjabis) in Australia, Badal said he had already taken up the matter with the union ministry concerned.

Sukhbir, who also holds the Home portfolio, said normalcy had been restored in the state and only night curfew was still being imposed in the disturbed areas as a precautionary measure.

The CM was accompanied by Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia and Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, chief adviser to the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Dera sources claimed that the postmortem of Sant Ramanand was conducted yesterday and it was expected that the mortal remains would be flown back on Wednesday. The funeral would take place on Thursday afternoon.

On the other hand, the administration, too, is making arrangements for the funeral that will be attended by thousands of devotees.