The Akal Takht has made Dera Sacha Sauda an offer it simply cannot accept.
According to the Pioneer:
The situation in Punjab is unlikely to return to normal after the Akal Takht on Sunday rejected the “regrets” offered by Baba Gurmit Singh Ram Rahim, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda of Sirsa and served him an ultimatum to wind up all his deras in Punjab before May 27. The Sikh clergy has also given call of Punjab Bandh on May 22.
This will mollify the extremists who are determined to teach Dera supporters a lesson. The dogged determination with which the Sikh extremists are pursuing the Dera Sacha Sauda reminds one of Madudi’s efforts to get Ahmediyyas declared as non Muslims.
The remnants of the Khalistani movement must be glad, this conflict has given them a reason to be back in the limelight, “Sikhism is in danger” yet once more.
The Hindu reports:
Despite ban orders crowds gathered in many parts of the State, processions were taken out and effigies of the Dera chief burnt.
Security personnel used “light force” to disperse a mob in Patiala. In Amritsar, the protesters were led by the former militant, Gurnam Singh Bandala, who recently exposed the police for allegedly killing a man in a fake encounter and claiming the prize money.
The Sikh extremist demand is simply unacceptable. The Dera followers have the right to follow their religion in their places of worship. I wonder how the media would have reacted if Hindu organizations had served an ultimatum to Muslims to close all mosques.
The Hindu organizations are setting a bad precedent by supporting the Sikh extremists for the sake of “Hindu-Sikh” brotherhood, rather than taking sides in this conflict for narrow political gains, they should be trying to build bridges between the two warring communities. The Dera supported the Congress in the recent elections that does not give anyone the right to declare an open season on its followers.
