Akal Takht, dera peace talks fizzle out, Badal unhappy with Vedanti, Makkar

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday reported to have conveyed his displeasure to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti over certain recent statements issued by him on the dera Sacha Sauda dispute.

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday reported to have conveyed his displeasure to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti over certain recent statements issued by him on the dera Sacha Sauda dispute.  

On Thursday Badal had reprimanded SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar for speaking out against dera and blaming AICC president Sonia Gandhi for fuelling the dispute. Badal had told Makkar to withdraw his statement.

Amidst confusion on finding a solution to the  dispute between Akal Takht and dera Sacha Sauda the efforts to bring peace appears to have fizzled out following dera's decision to opt for legal course without giving peace makers a chance to end the stand off.

 It is feared that a fresh round of violence may grip Punjab in first week of June when Sikhs would be observing 24th anniversary of Operation Blue Star conducted by Army in Golden Temple on June 6. Sikhs observe the day as “Ghhallughara”day.

The Akal Takht sources in Amritsar said that they had not received any fresh response from Swami Agnivesh who was trying to break the dead lock and had persuaded the dera Chief Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh to offer an apology. The sentiments of Sikhs were hurt when dera chief tried to imitate Guru Gobind Singh by adopting rituals performed by him at the time of founding Khalsa Panth.

Badal on Thursday after the meeting of his party executive Committee had given clear signals that he wanted to give long rope to the dispute with dera Sacha Sauda and assured to maintain law and order. It was in this context that he upset over statements by Makkar and Vedanti that they would stick to decision of the Sikh clergy.

The Akal Takht has issued an edict on May 17 last calling for social boycott of dera Sacha Sauda followers and they have been asked to vacate all their centers in Punjab by May 27. A complete Punjab Bandh was also observed on May 22 on Akal Takht's call.

Certain dera followers have on Friday approached Supreme Court to settle their dispute and seek protection to their properties in India. The Supreme Court has refused to entertain the first plea of dera, it has however fixed June 4 to consider the second part related to properties.

Even as Punjab government has not made any comment on these developments, it is understood that Punjab government led by Parkash Singh Badal could not defy the Akal Takht decisions. Badal has said that stand of his party (Shiromani Akali Dal) was made clear to the public. The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of SAD has condemned the dera Sacha Sauda and endorsed Akal Takht edict. Badal had softened his stand during last two days due to pressure from BJP which wanted to settle the matter. The talks by Sarv Dharam committee have failed to reach any conclusion after dera backed out from apology due to certain suspicions.

On the other hand radical Sikh organisations and Akali factions are waiting for the Akal Takht decision on vacating the deras. Mohakam Singh spokes person of Damdami Taksal has said in Amritsar thay they would not agree to anything less than vacating dera Sacha deras and arrest of Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.