Latest Breaking News from Punjab: Wednesday 27th June 2007

Dera Head Boycott 2 jathedars against edict withdrawal

Amritsar, The ongoing mediation efforts to resolve Sikh-Dera Sacha Sauda impasse may suffer a big jolt even as Giani Iqbal Singh and Giani Jotinder Singh , Jathedars of Patna Sahib and Hazoor Sahib have said previous “gurmatta” passed by the Sikh high priests, calling for boycott of Dera Sacha Sauda chief, won't be withdrawn at any cost.
The strict stand taken by Jathedars of two takhts has put the mediators in a fix. themdiators had promised the Dera Sacha Sauda chief that they would prevail upon the Sikh clergy to withdraw the “gurmatta” in case Dera Sacha Sauda tendered fresh apology to the Sikh Panth.
Talking to The Tribune here today, Jathedar Iqbal Singh made it clear that the “gurmatta” once pronounced from a takht could not be withdrawn. He, however, said the proposed meeting of Sikh high priests to be held at Akal Takht Secretariat, here tomorrow would discuss only the contents of the fresh apology letter submitted by Dera Sacha Sauda . “We won’t go beyond the apology letter”, he said .
Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and Giani Tarlochan Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht and Kesgarh Sahib, are coming by Indian Airlines flight late tonight after cutting short their visit to Canada, to participate in the proposed meeting of the Sikh clergy.
Meanwhile, the SGPC has put its Task Force on high alert as a preventive measure. Police in mufti would also be deployed outside Akal Takht complex.
Earlier, on May 20, the Sikh high priests had heard the representatives of various Sikh organisations before passing “gurmatta”, rejecting the apology tendered by Dera Sacha Sauda.
However, sources maintained that Jathedar Vedanti is under tremendous pressure to accept the fresh apology. On the other hand , the hardliners have taken a tough stand on this issue.
An emergency meeting of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), held at Khanna said if Jathedars would accept the fresh apology letter against the wishes of Sikh masses then they would reject their decision.

KAC Appointed Five Member Sub-Committee for June 27 Meeting

The Khalsa Action Committee held a meeting on 26 June at Chadigarh and appointed a five member sub-committee to present KAC view on fresh apology by dera sauda, before Sri Akaal Takht. Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, S. Kanwarpal Singh Bittu, S. Harinder Singh Norway, S. Mohkam Singh and S. Gurtej Singh (IAS) are members of this Sub-committee.

Sikh clergy to meet Wednesday to decide on dera apology

AMRITSAR: The five Sikh High priests are meeting on Wednesday At Akal Takht in Amritsar to discuss the fresh apology sent by dera Sacha Sauda but Sikh clergy seems in no mood to bail out dera chief Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh who is accused of blasphemy.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh vedanti who is returning from Canada tonight has Tuesday morning shot off a statement from Canada stating that Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh arrogant, mischievous and cunning. Vedanti in his statement called upon asked all the Sikh organizations to assemble on single platform to tackle present ongoing the situation.
According to the secretariat of Akal Takht tomorrow the meeting of Sikh clergy would be held in view of the latest development, which arose after the second and fresh apology letter sent to Akal Takht by the Dera Sacha Sauda. The draft was sent to Akal Takht through the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna.
Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements were being made around the Akal Takht and Golden Temple by the city police. SGPC is also deploying adequate strength of Task Force inside the Golden Temple and around the Akal Takht in view of the tomorrow's meeting. It is expected that large number of hard liner Sikhs would assemble in the Golden Temple complex to build pressure for not exonerating the dera chief.
A Bathidna court on June 20 had issued arrest warrant against , Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs. A case under section 295 A has been registered against dera chief who appeared in an advertisement, attired like Guru Gobind Singh on May 13 and later during a congregation on May 14 last. The violence had erupted in Punjab following the May 14 incident.
The Sikh clerics had given call for social, religious and political boycott of dera chief and his followers. The Akal Takht on May 30 last had rejected an earlier apology tendered by the dera chief.
The radical Sikh organisations have been demanding immediate arrest for the dera Chief and they had also organised protest march on June 24 to press for their demand.
It is expected that Sikh clergy may not accept the second apology of dera Chief since it has not been signed by Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh. The apology letter is issued by dera management. The only improvement in the text of the apology is that dera has sought apology from Sikh community along with Guru Gobind Singh.