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Situation ‘highly explosive’
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 25Cautioning 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.