Takht Jathedars Backtrack from Earlier Panthic Gurmattas
Amritsar Sahib (KP) - The deadline initially set by Akal Takht Sahib has passed, Gurmeet Ram Rahim has failed to apologize to the Sikh Nation for hurting its sentiments, and prominent Sikh leaders are still demanding the closure of all deras in Punjab. In a meeting held yesterday at Akal Takht Sahib, no course of action was discussed to close the deras but according to trustworthy sources, final decisions could be made at the May 31st protest march that is going to be organized from Fatehgarh Sahib.
Continuous Pressure from Badal and son for Jathedars to wrap up entire Sirsa Dera Standoff
According to Panthic sources, the Jathedars are now backtracking from earlier Gurmattas due to continuous pressure from the Badal Government. There have been ongoing closed door meetings between the SGPC, the Jathedars and the the Badal Government representatives, Sikh Badal in particualr. They have been criticized for shortening the protest march route to conclude at Gurdwara Jyoti Saroop Sahib, instead of concluding at Chandigarh. They have also requested Sikhs to not display any weapons during a the march. Both decisions have been criticized by Panthic groups who accuse the Jathedars of a volte face from their earlier statements.
Panthic Organization the Khalsa Alliance, criticized the Jathedars for yielding to pressure from the Punjab Government. “These Jathedars are supposed to be at the service of the Khalsa Panth not anti-Panthic politicians such as Sukhbir Badal, who himself is a chela (follower) of the Sirsa cult,” read a statement by the Alliance.
“We ask all Panthic organizations to be aware of the surreptitious activities of Akali Dal Badal, Sawami Agnivesh of Arya Samaj , and Dhumma’s Sant Samaj. Harnam Singh Dhumma, the Sant-Samaj organization, and the Arya Samaj are themselves guilty of deraism and blasphemy. What right do they have for commandeering this Panthic agenda ?” chasticed the Khalsa Alliance statement.
Arya Samaji attempts to play middleman between Panth and Sirsa Cult
Swami Agnivesh, a prominent Arya Samajist leader, who has held talks with the Dera Sauda Chief and Sikh officials, failed to mediate in the issue as Gurmeet Ram Rahim declined to accept the apology drafted by the Sarb Dharam Committee. While talking to the press from Amritsar Sahib, Swami Agnivesh expressed his regret towards the egotistical stand taken by the dera chief. He held that if Gurmeet Ram Rahim had shown genuine humility in his apologies, the issue could have been resolved by now.
Meanwhile as the Dera Sauda chief has continually shown restraint in his 'apologies', he has filed a plea with the Supreme Court seeking protection of his property located throughout Punjab. Additionally, a court case has also been filed by the dera against Akal Takhat Sahib for hurting the sentiments of the Sauda followers.
An urgent hearing was requested by Sacha Sauda lawyers but this plea was declined by the Supreme Court. Declaring that the Supreme Court does not see any urgency in this matter, the court hearing was scheduled to take place on June 4. Abhijeet Bhagat, an official of Dera Sauda, while filing this plea with the Supreme Court, lashed out at the Akali Dal Government for supporting the Akal Takhat Sahib in its decisions against the dera.
In contrast to the behavior of the Sacha Sauda Chief, hundreds of his followers have broken away from the cult after Akal Takhat Sahib passed a mandate requiring Sikhs to boycott the Dera Sauda. A delegation of these former-Sacha Sauda members appeared at the main office of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in Amritsar Sahib and reported their rift from the dera. They expressed full agreement with Akal Takhat Sahib mandates passed against Dera Sauda and held that all deras must be closed as the reality of the deras has finally been revealed.
