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Sikh clergy emergency meeting tomorrow

Tribune News Service

The Jathedar, Akal Takht, has convened an emergency meeting of the Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht secretariat on May 29 here to discuss the apology tendered by Dera Sacha Sauda.
A decision to this effect was taken by Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti after holding an informal meeting with Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh and Giani Tarlochan Singh — Jathedars of Takht Damdama Sahib and Kesgarh Sahib, respectively, in Sangrur where they had gone to attend the bhog ceremony of Kanwaljit Singh. The apology has come few hours before the end of the ultimatum served on Dera Sacha Sauda.
However, Jathedar Vedanti said that he could not comment on the apology tendered by the dera as it was addressed to Guru Gobind Singh. He said the Akal Takht had not received a fax from the dera and hence he could comment only after going through the contents of the apology.
Earlier, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had talked to Jathedar Vedanti to seek his cooperation in defusing the volatile situation.
Sources said Badal spoke to Jathedar Vedanti for about 10 minutes and discussed the current religious situation in Punjab. Harcharan Bains, media adviser to Chief Minister, said there was nothing wrong in what Badal spoke to Jathedar, Akal Takht, on Dera Sacha Sauda issue.
While a big section of the SGPC and the ruling SAD has described the apology as a “big achievement”, some radical Sikh organisations are not satisfied with the contents of letter. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Parmjit Singh Sarna said though the dera had apologised for its acts, the contents of the letter had not assuaged the feelings of the Sikh masses.