- Sikh Protest March at Fatehgrah Sahib -

SGPC demands

Prohibit (the Dera) from the exploiting sacred symbols of various religions without their express permission. A provision for stringent punishments be made in law so that such -like mischief-mongers do not dare play with religious sentiments of people. The dera chief should not be allowed to evade the course of law, against charges of rape, murder and conspiracy already framed against him. A high-level inquiry be instituted into his blasphemous actions to unravel the larger conspiracy of destabilising the state in particular and the nation in general.

Moderates carry the day in Punjab

Fatehgarh Sahib

The procession of Sikh organisations was peaceful here today. However, difference of opinion emerged between the moderates and the radicals. The former, clearly in strength, virtually pushed the radicals to the background and decided the future course of action against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda.
This may allay fears of people across the country that radicals were slowly re-establishing control in Punjab.
Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti virtually echoed the feelings of the congregation saying “peaceful protests will continue till the dera chief is not uprooted”.
He said no issue could be solved with gun. He reminded the youth that the state had seen troubled times during the dark days of militancy and praised them for controlling them despite provocation. He asked those present in the congretaion to use “gyan”and not gun to solve the issue.
peace march
(From top) Sukhbir Badal at a congregation at Fathehgarh Sahib on Thursday; Kirpal Singh Badungar, former SGPC president, leads a march at Fatehgarh Sahib; and leading the march were a large number of men in khaki.— Tribune photos — Pradeep Tewari
The signal for peace from the moderates was clear at the outset. At the ‘ardas’ at the commencement of the procession the head granthi of the historic Fatehgarh Sahib gurdwara — in the presence of all Sikh high priests and other religious leaders — prayed to the Almighty to punish the Dera chief terming him a “dharam dokhi” (religious offender). The radical groups, told the media later they rejected this and wanted the arrest of the Dera chief and strong action. This group even carried computer- generated print outs praising Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and “Khalistan”.
The two groups ended up taking out separate processions with the radical elements surprising everybody by taking out their procession first. The team of moderates lead by Avtar Singh SGPC chief was the last as splinters groups of few other Sikh organisations broke away in small groups. This included one led by Paramjit Singh Sarna chief of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
This morning the procession started from the historic gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and ended 2 km away at the Sri Jyoti Swarup gurdwara even as shopkeepers in this town had put up shutters anticipating trouble.
However, under Akal Takht directions there were no unsheathed swords and no firearms as the Punjab Police and the Rapid Action Force kept watch with senior officers overseeing arrangements.
As the procession ended at Jyoti Swarup gurdwara SGPC chief Avtar Singh r handed over memorandums on behalf of the Sikh Sangat to the ADCs of the Governors of Punjab and Haryana.
It was a rare occasion that Raj Bhawan officials had been sent specifically by the Governors to receive memorandums. It was decided if the ADC’s did not come then a 11-member delegation led by Avtar Singh would go to present the memorandum to the Governors.
Sarna later told media persons the march should have been up to Chandigarh and not culminated at Sri Jyoti Swarup gurdwara here. The Akal Takht hukamnama was clear in this regard and the high priests had acted at the behest of Parkash Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal.
SAD working president Sukhbir Badal said the entire procession and the protest was as per Takht’s hukamnama. The protest will carry on at religious level, he said as his security officers asked him to sit in his bullet-proof car and whisked him away.

On shortening of march route Vedanti-SGPC cross swords

Amritsar

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and the SGPC today crossed swords over the publication of an advertisement in leading newspapers on behalf of the latter regarding shortening of the protest-march route against the blasphemous acts of the dera chief.
SGPC officials did not bother to seek permission from the Akal Takht secretariat or the Sikh clergy before publishing such advertisement on behalf of the Jathedar.
This is for the first time that such an advertisement was published on behalf of the Jathedar, which has initiated fresh debate in the Panthic circles. The advertisement caused immense embarrassment to the Sikh high priests since they themselves had pronounced that the protest march would be taken out from Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh.
Talking to The Tribune, Jathedar Vedanti described advertisement “unprecedented”. The Jathedar said he would take up the matter with SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar. He said the advertisement should have been published on behalf of SGPC’s Dharm Parchar Committee. Earlier advertisement, published in various newspapers regarding Punjab bandh on May 20 was also published on behalf of the Dharm Parchar Committee and not on behalf the Akal Takht Jathedar.
Akal Takht has been receiving a number of complaints following publication of “sandesh” (message) in the name of Sikh masses on behalf of the Akal Takht Jathedar.
SAD general secretary Bhai Ram Singh said the working committee meeting of his party would be convened within a week to discuss the shortening of the route of the protest march. He said it was unfortunate that the Jathedar Vedanti had amended the “Gurmatta”, pronounced from Akal Takht regarding the route of the protest march. He said as per the original announcement, its route was from Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh which was later changed under political pressure.

Dera Row Fatehgarh-city march foiled, Sarna blames govt - Paramjit Singh Sarna ( President Dehli Sikh Gurdwara Prabandak Committe)

Chandigarh,

Accusing the Punjab Government of interfering in the religious matters of the Sikhs, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Paramjit Singh Sarna today said the state government had resorted to pressure tactics to prevent the protest march from Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh.
Addressing media persons at the Chandigarh Press Club, Sarna alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had changed stand from his earlier statements that the state governments should refrain from meddling with religious matters. The heavy deployment of police at Fatehgarh Sahib was testimony to the fact, he added.
Holding the state government responsible for incidents that have taken place during the past 19 days in the wake of the Dera Sacha Sauda row, Sarna alleged no steps had been taken by the government to resolve the issue or to assuage the hurt sentiments of the Sikhs. Even after the dera chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was booked in a case of hurting religious sentiments by the Punjab police, no serious efforts were made to arrest him. “Taking a moral responsibility the Chief Minister should resign,” he asserted.
He, however, parried media queries on why they had not pursued the matter of hurting religious sentiments in Delhi against the dera chief.
He warned that if no action was taken against the Dera chief, they would gherao the state government in Chandigarh. He also said they had also filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court regarding the CBI inaction in cases seeking the intervention of the apex court to speed up the probe against the dera chief.
Flaying the SGPC, Sarna stated that it had also failed to comply by its earlier decision that an 11-member delegation would hand over memorandums to the Governors of Punjab and Haryana, as they had agreed to handing over the memorandums to a representative of the authorities in Fatehgarh Sahib.
Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode of the Sant Samaj said they would stick to their earlier decisions as per which all Sikh organisations would assemble on June 2 in Ludhiana to chalk out the next course of action. Demanding the arrest the dera chief, he called upon the Sikh organisations to close all deras of the sect in Punjab.
Former secretary of the SGPC Manjit Singh Calcutta said the dera chief should be punished for his act and it was the only way to assuage the sentiments of Sikhs.

Cops were on their toes all through the day
Chandigarh,

The Chandigarh police remained on its toes today in the wake of the expected march of Sikh organisations toward Chandigarh from Fatehgarh Sahib to hand over memorandums to the Governors of Punjab and Haryana.
A heavy deployment of police was seen on all roads leading to the city from Punjab. Police sources said approximately 1600 personnel were deployed in various parts of the city, including around Punjab and Haryana Raj Bhavans.
Nakas were set up on all roads connecting the city to Punjab, which were manned by deputy superintendents of police. The nakas were set up at around 8 am and lifted around 2 pm. However, the traffic flowed smoothly on the roads.
It was around afternoon that the police heaved a sigh of relief when it got information that the protestors had agreed to hand over their memorandums to a representative of the Governor. A team of CID officials of the Chandigarh police, deployed at Fatehgarh Sahib, was giving minute to minute inputs of development occurring at Fatehgarh Sahib.
A team of police personnel led by the Sector 3 police station inspector Ram Gopal remained stationed near both the Raj Bhavans.

Peaceful Protest by Sikhs

The Akal Takht, the supreme temporal and spiritual body of Sikhs, expressed dissatisfaction with the apology tendered by Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Raheem, accused of blasphemy, saying the gesture was "a shrewd tactic to divert attention".In conflict with the Dera chief for his alleged imitation of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, the five Sikh high priests, at a meeting here, said the social boycott of Dera followers announced by them would continue.A resolution adopted at the meeting said the apology given by the Dera chief to Guru Gobind Singh on Sunday night was "not graceful in language and spirit".The priests said the apology was "no more than a shrewd tactic of the Dera Chief to divert attention from the fact that he himself is not forthcoming with the apology but is instead trying to hide behind nameless followers".The Takht described the Dera chief as "shrewd and egoistic"."When the apology is sincere and from the core of the heart, then the Guru (Gobind Singh) is magnanimous to forgive. "If he has sincerely apologized, then the Guru would forgive him," the resolution said adding "but he has worded the apology in a cunning manner"."God always pardons the guilty", the Sikh priests said.The Akal Takht meeting presided by Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti said if the Dera Chief and his followers had expressed the apology from the core of their heart to Guru Gobind Singh, the creator of Khalsa Panth (Sikh religion) would forgive them."If they have indulged in mischief, the Guru would take care of them," it said.
The Akal Takht directed Sikhs to conduct a peaceful protest march against recent actions of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect against their religion.
On the eve of the protest march - to be held from Gurudwara Jyoti Sarup at Fatehgarh Sahib, 45 km from here, to the city - the Akal Takht issued fresh directives to Sikhs not to do anything unlawful.

"The march will be led by 11 leaders of the Sikh community who will proceed to Chandigarh. It should be kept peaceful. No one should carry or show any firearms or traditional weapons during the rally," the Akal Takht directive said.
Sikh groups and thousands of their supporters had started gathering at Fatehgarh Sahib - a religious town where two sons of 10th Sikh guru Gobind Singh had made a sacrifice during Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's rule.
The groups are seeking the sect chief's arrest. They also want a complete ban on all his deras.
The delegation leading the protest march will submit memorandums to governors of Punjab and Haryana in Chandigarh demanding action against Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmit Ram Rahim for hurting the religious sentiments of Sikh community recently by portraying himself like Guru Gobind Singh.
The Akal Takht directive for Thursday's protest march was read out to the community at Harmandir Sahib (abode of god) - the sanctum sanctorum inside the Golden Temple complex in Sikh holy city Amritsar.
Security at Fatehgarh Sahib and the highway leading to Chandigarh was beefed up by the Punjab police and paramilitary forces. The police were put on alert in Chandigarh too.

Delhi Panthic Convention : Shutdown Sirsa Deras

New Delhi (KP) – In light of the recent controversial acts of the Dera Sauda, a Panthic convention was organized here by the Delhi Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) under the leadership of Paramjit Singh Sarna and Harwinder Singh Sarna. Several eminent personalities along with Takhat Jathedars presented their views at the convention in regards to the blasphemous acts of the dera leader.
Singh Sahib Joginder Singh Vedanti, while addressing the sangat, said that the controversies associated with the dera are not new. He blamed the dera ‘gurus’ for causing confusion in the sangat by misusing Sikh establishments. The name of the dera is based on a historical incident of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s life, said the Jathedar, while pronouncing that the dera should change its name to stop causing confusion within the Sikh Sangat.
Singh Sahib Jathedar Iqbal Singh blamed the dera leader for stirring controversies. He said that the Sikh Panth should be concerned over the fact that the Dalits, who at one time had joined Sikhi in big numbers, were being targeted the most by the deras like Sacha Sauda. He also shed light on on several cases against Gurmeet Ram Rahim that are pending court hearings.
Harnaam Singh Dhumma, also bashed Gurmeet Ram Rahim for hurting Sikh sentiments but acknowledged that the recent issues have once again awakened the Sikh nation. The recent actions of sikh youth have proven that the Panthic spirit still burns bright in them. He asked the Takhat Jathedars initiate a movement geared towards bringing back the Sikhs who have gone astray because of dera activities. Dhumma also expressed concerns over the media portrayal of the Sikhs as many media agencies showed Sikhs in a negative light.
Daljit Singh Bittu said that the reason Sikhs have to continuously face these issues is because the Panth is lacking good political leaders. He said that the Sikhs should only look up to Guru Granth Sahib Ji in these situations. He said that the Akal Takhat Sahib should organize a committee so that the movement which energized the nation after the blasphemous acts of Gurmeet Ram Rahim could be kept alive. This committee should provide research on activities of various deras that have been established in Punjab.
This convention was attended by several other Panthic personalities, including Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Giani Iqbal Singh, Giani Tirlochan Singh and Manjit Singh Calcutta. Besides Daljit S. Bittu, several members of Shiromani Akal Dal (A) were also present at the convention in absence of S. Simranjit Singh Mann. Surprisingly, the presence of Jagdish Singh Jhinda (President Haryana Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) was also noted at the convention.
The following resolutions were passed at the end of the convention with consent of all the leaders who were present there. These resolutions were passed according to the previous mandate of Akal Takhat Sahib of getting all Sacha Sauda deras in Punjab vacated:
1. All Sikh leaders expressed agreement with the previous mandate of Akal Takhat Sahib and stated that the Sacha Sauda deras in Punjab must be closed immediately.
2. Gurmeet Ram Rahim should be arrested at once for his blasphemous acts of insulting Sikh standards, for disrupting peace in Punjab and neighboring states, and for illegally possessing dangerous weapons. Furthermore, the court must finish its hearing of the cases that are pending against the dera leader and punish him for his crimes appropriately.
3. Dera Sacha Sauda must also stop using religious symbols of different religions to promote itself as one mutual sect of all religions.
4. The name of Dera Sacha Sauda must be changed as the Sikh Nation will never accept misuse of Sikh history or Gurbani.
5. A panel of renowned Sikh historians should be formed to research and document Sikh history. This panel should also keep an eye on acts of other cults in Punjab, including Bhaniara wale, Noormehel and others.

Prosecute Sirsa Dera chief, apology not sufficient

Advocate D S Gill, Chairperson, International Human Rights Organisation
Ludhiana, Punjab - The International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO) today urged the Sikh leadership, including Jathedar Akal Takht against compromising the interests of the people, especially the Sikhs, while striking any peace pact under the garb of apology with Dera "Sacha Sauda" head, classically named, Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.
"We are of the strong opinion that dera chief Gurmit Singh has committed a criminal act under section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code while attiring and equating himself as Guru Gobind Singh, thus outraging the religious feelings and beliefs of the world-wide Sikh community", said IHRO chairperson D S Gill and general secretary M S Grewal, in a press statement issued here today.
They asked the Central, Punjab and Haryana governments, as well, to desist diluting the dera chief's crime under the pretext of apology. "He must be prosecuted in order to bring him to the book, as he is not above law and is already facing charges of murder and rape."
The IHRO advocates also asked Dera chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh: "If you are really a God's man, you should surrender before the law as has been done in 1981 by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who was wanted by the police in murder cases of Nirankari Baba Gurbachan Singh and Lala Jagat Narain."
The Core Group of this Human Rights NGO, in its emergency meeting here on Wednesday, decided that, if the respective governments tried to dilute the guilt of Sirsa dera head and failed to get him arrested under any political compulsion or pressure of any sort, it would fight against this injustice and the failure of the government in courts of law.


Sukhbir Badal thanked the Sikhs for peaceful march

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Shiromani Akali Dal Acting president Sukhbir Badal talking to media persons after the protest march said that the march was peaceful and he thanked the people for it.
When asked to comment on poor response of people to the march, lack of coordination between SGPC and state government , Sukhbir said that the state government was nothing to do with the march.
On criticism of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna for changing previous programme to take out protest march from Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh, Sukhbir said that the call of protest march was given by the Sikh clergy and they chalked out all programme. He said that if Sarna and his associates disobeyed Akal Takht directions by their unnecessary criticism.
Talking to media persons Shiromonai Akali Dal (Amritsar) senior leader Emaan Singh Mann, who also participated in the protest march said that todays’ gathering was a failure because the government had made massive efforts to restrict people from attending.


Sikhs take out peaceful protest march against dera

FATEHGARH SAHIB: On the call given by Akal Takht the Sikh organisations including SGPC, Nihang Singh sects, Shiromani Akali Dal activists Thursday took out a peaceful march from Gurdawara Fatehgarh Sahib to Gurdawara Jyoti swaroop at Fatehgarh Sahib to protest against actions of dera Sacha Sauda.
In an unpredented move, the ADC's of Punjab and Haryana governors reached at Fatehgarh Sahib to receive the memorendum from 11 member panel constituted to go to Chandigarh for the purpose. The committee headed by SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar submitted the memorendum outside Gurdawara persmises.
Others present on the occassion included SGPC senior vice president Raghujit Singh Virk, Damdami Takhsal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa, Nihal Singh Harian Belan Wale, Hari Singh Randhawa , Gurmail Singh General Secretaries of Sant Samaj, Lakhmir Singh Bilongwale, Balbir Singh, Nihang Chief Budha Dal, Baba Daya Singh Sursinhwale, Baba Avtar Singh and Baba Jarnail Singh Rara Sahib wale were also present beforetaking out the protest march.
Initially, there was a gathering of around 5,000 people inside and outside Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib complex around 10 AM before the start of the march.
SAD Acting president Sukhbir Badal also reached at the Gurdwara. SAD PAC members Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Randhir Singh Cheema, MP Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Public Relations Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia, former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar, former minister Tota Singh, Sikh Students Federation president Gurcharan Singh Grewal were also present.
Giani Tarlochan Singh, Jathedar Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib performed the ardas’ (religious prayer) inside the main shrine of the Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib. He prayed in front of Guru Granth Sahib that a suitable punishment will be awarded to Dera Chief Sacha Sauda by the Almighty, who ‘acted against the Sikh religion’. He further prayed that the participants should carry out the protest march peacefully and during the protest march, so Sikh should carry unsheathed swords and shout slogans.
Immediately, after the Ardas, all the leaders of various Sikh organizations led by five Singh Sahibans(high priests)- Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh, Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh , Golden Temple, Amritsar Head Granthi Bhai Gurcharan Singh came out of the main Gurdwara complex and gathered outside the Gurdwara to lead the protest march. The protest march led by a five high priests and a bus carrying 11 member committee started moving towards Gurdwara Jyoti Swaroop around 10.30 Am.
Just before the start of protest march, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna in the presence of SAD(Amritsar) senior vice president Daljit Singh Bitu and former Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode strongly criticized the present government and SGPC for changing their previous programme to take out the protest march from Fatehgarh Sahib to Chandigarh. Sarna said that theywere totally disagreed with the SGPC and state government on their issue of Dera Sacha Sauda.
The protest march started towards Jyoti Swaroop Gurdwara on foot, some nihangs were raveling in their private vehicles. An Air Conditioner bus with a banner in Punjabi ‘For memorandum to be submitted to the Governor against Dera Sirsa Chief’ carried all member committee inside it during the protest march. SAD Acting president Sukhbir Badal and other SAD leaders also started moving at the end of the protest march.
When a group led by Daljit Singh Bitu, Paramjit Singh Sarna and Jasbir Singh Rode comprising around 100 members, reached near District Administrative Complex, Fatehgarh Sahib enroute to Gurdwara Jyoti Swaroop, started raising slogans ‘ Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale Zindabad’, ‘Shaheed Kamaljit Singh Amar Rahe’(Kamaljit Singh was killed in firing at Sunam during Dera Sacha Sauda controversy). They stopped shouting these slogans after five minutes.
A large number of security persons, Punjab police, armed and unarmed standing on the sides of the road was mute specters and they did not intervene. The protest march continue towards Jyoti Swaroop Gurdwara again, after about 10 minutes, when a group led by Sukhbir Badal just passed nearby the Bitu group, the followers of Bitu again started raising slogans. These slogans were shouted by Bitu group in presence of Sarna and Rode intentionally to provide just passing near by Sukhbir Badal and his followers. However Sukhbir Badal and other SAD leaders peacefully passed reciting ‘Satnam Waheguru’.
Emaan Singh Mann son of Simranjit Singh Mann moved separately with 50 activists . The protest march reached outside Gurdwara Jyoti Swaroop at around 11.30. There , a group of some Sikh youths while waiving small posters shouted slogans ‘ Khalistan Zindabad’.
The youths were raising these slogans very loudly and stood in front of the gate of the AC bus from where all 11 member committee was to alight to hand over memorandum to the ADCs to Governors of Punjab and Haryana, who were already waiting near Gurdwara Jyoti Swaroop. The police had put barricades near the Gurdwara chowk leading towards the route to Chandigarh to prevent any movement in that direction. The slogans shouted by handful of youths carried on for around 20 minutes near the bus of the committee. The committee members initially decided not to hand over the memorandum to the ADCs there but suddenly a decision was taken to hand over memorandum to ADCs at the door of the bus and it was handed over in haste with the help of Member Parliament Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and former Punjab Public Service Commission member Amarjit Singh Chawla, who was also in bus. The bus immediately moved towards other side with the committee members. The Sikh youths carried out slogans for another 10 minutes and on two occasion, the police had made efforts to pacify them but they did not listen to police. The police did not use any force and after sometimes, the youths dispersed automatically.
Later, the SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar reached at the venue where the crowd was listening to speeches of high priests and other dignitaries.
Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh delivered speeches. During their address to people they wholeheartedly thanked to various Sikh organizations for participating in the protest march given against the Dera Sacha Sauha chief. They strongly criticized the Dera chief, who had deeply hurt the Sikh sentiments, which is nonpardonable. The government has been asked through the memorandum to take stern action against the Dera chief and prosecute him by filing criminal case under section 295-A of the IPC and should given maximum punishment and this section should be amended to give life imprisonment. The SGPC and other Sikh religious organisations will intensity the movement to clean the dirt and dust, which has been spread in the Sikh religion by the persons like Dera chief.
The Sikhs were appealed to carry out protests against Dera chief in a peaceful manner and should not carry unsheathed swords etc, which may jeopardize their movement. A peaceful atmosphere should be maintained. They said that the Sikh bodies like SGPC should start preaching the Sikh religion in a way where the persons , who had left Sikhism and joined Dera Sacha Sauda, should be brought back to the Sikh religion.
SGPC president categorically hailed the victory of Sikhs on the line that for the first time, the representatives of Governors have themselves approached the Sikh bodies for collecting a memorandum. He said that a penal of legal luminariesshould be constituted to contest the cases those who committed sons against Sikh religions like Dera Sacha Sauda chief.
They also criticized Dera Head for displaying the religious symbols of Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and Christians and the government should take stern action against him to prevent him from misusing their religious symbols, which is endangering the nationalunity and integration.
During the middle of speeches, the ADCs to Governors of Punjab and Haryana who came by the side of the stage were invited to collect memorandum, which was already delivered to them earlier.
The protest march concluded after performance of Ardas by Giani Tarlochan Singh around 12.35 PM. No untoward incident came to notice during the whole protest march except raising the slogans. There was poor response of people to the protest march and it was not taken in an organized manner. The different groups of Sant Samaj religious leaders, Nihangs,SAD(Badal group), SAD(Amritsar group) moved in separate groups.
Around 100 personnel of RAF were deployed at the outskirts of Fatehgarh Sahib on the route towards Chandigarh near Fatehgarh Sahib byepass. There were around 2, 000 security men in uniform and plain clothed deployed enrooted protest march and inside the Gurdwara complex. Patiala Range IG N.K. Tiwari, Fatehgarh Sahib SSP Nilabh Kishore, SAS Nager SSP R.S. Khatra, Fatehgarh Sahib DC Alaknanda Dayal, SAS Nager DC HIS Grewal supervised the security men arrangements near Gurdwara Jyoti Swaroop and other area.