Chandigarh, June. 23 (PTI): Trouble for Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has increased, with police seeking the Punjab Government’s approval to arrest him for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs.
Acting on a court order, Bhatinda police have sent an application to the government seeking sanction to prosecute the Dera head, Bhatinda police chief Naunihal Singh told PTI over phone here today.
A court in Bhatinda had on May 20 issued a conditional non-bailable warrant against the head of Sirsa-based sect.
On an application moved by police seeking arrest warrant against the Dera head, the court had observed that police would have to seek prior permission from the government before the prosecution of the Dera head.
However, the state government is yet to decide on the police application, which is pending with the Principal Secretary (home), Chief Secretary R I Singh said.
The order of the Bhatinda court has to be executed by July one.
Meanwhile, despite an appeal by Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh Makkar to hardliners to defer their proposed march in Bhatinda tomorrow till it decides on the apology by the Dera head, the Khalsa Action Committee - comprising leaders of various Sikh religious groups - was adamant on its programme.
The members of Khalsa Action Committee along with several Sikhs will organise a march from Bina Kangar village to Talwandi Sabo, a Sikh temporal seat in Bhatinda tomorrow, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh said adding the march would be “peaceful” and pass from areas where there is a sizeable population of dera followers, including its main branch in Salabatpura village.
Bathinda, June 23: Sikh organisations, including radical bodies, have agreed to change the name of their “awareness” march here after persuasion by the authorities.
An hour-long meeting between the organisations and police officials, including the DIG and SSP, led them to change the “Khalsa protest march” to the “Khalsa Chetna march”
The organisations’ heads also agreed on not taking any kind of weapon with them and not shouting any slogans.
However, the organisers refused to change the route of the march, which will pass about one-and-half kilometres from the Dera Salabatpura, which was attacked by Sikh protestors on May 17.
Among the leaders present at the talks were Bhai Jasvir Singh Rode, former jathedar Akal Takht, Bhai Mohkam Singh of Damdami Taksal, Sant Sukhchain Singh Dharampura, Sant Buta Singh Gurthari, and Gurdeep Singh.
Senior Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh, when contacted, said talks were still on with marchers and police were fully prepared to maintain law and order at all costs.
“We have stationed as many as 3,700 personnel on the route for the march and no one will be allowed to move towards Salabatpura with evil intentions. However, talks are on to convince the protesors to change the route,” he said.
The march will start at 0930 hours from Gurudwara Dina Sahib Kangar and end on reaching Talwadi Sabo in the evening at around 1700 hours.
SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar and Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh had appealed to the protestors to defer the march and wait for the decision of the Akal Takht on the apology submitted by the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Guru Ram Rahim Singh on June 20.
The history repeats itself but with different consequences. Indira Gandhi pleased with the then Home Minister Zail Singh’s instrumentality in the aftermath of Nirankari episode elevated him to the President of India. Impressed by Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s machinations in Dera’s controversy, Sonia Gandhi has decided to promote him as the next President of the country. Zail Singh was criticized for lackluster performance in the same way Shivraj Patil is being targeted both by the opposition and UPA partners. CPI (M) blames Patil seriously lacking in “impeccable secular credentials” and accused him not being a ‘neutral person’ fit for the highest office. Why Sonia Gandhi does insist on Patil’s candidature? Why was Shivraj Patil so upset about Doordarshan’s (Government of India’s official TV network) coverage of Congress leaders’ links with Gurmeet Ram Rahim? Why did Patil fire Doordarshan Director (News) Swagat Ghosh? The answers to these questions indicate that there is more to Dera controversy than meets the eye.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s immediate problem is to wriggle out of murder charges. He won’t care if his followers accused in the murder are hanged to death so long as he is acquitted. A delegation of Punjab congress MLA’s met Sonia Gandhi after Punjab assembly election. Their one point appeal was to help Gurmeet Ram Rahim in CBI’s cases. Shivraj Patil’s direct intervention resulted in removing DSP Amandeep Singh who according to Ashul, Journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati’s son, had written to CBI Director to arrest Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Tehlka investigation points out that CBI is “hushing up politically inconvenient cases.” Similar apprehensions were expressed by Punjab and Haryana High court judges who said the CBI officers seemed to be acting on extraneous considerations.
The soul of Ram Chander Chhatrapati must have turned in his grave at the reward of z plus cover to the architect of his doom. The most provocative action of masquerading as tenth Sikh Guru proved a blessing in disguise. Tidal waves of Sikhs’ annoyance only elevated his confidence level as he has proved his worth in a big way by entering into an underground Sauda of his safety. He needed Z Plus more for upholding aura of the Guru than for his protection. His secret commandoes are highly trained to neutralize any impending threat to Baba’s life. What was beyond the control of his invisible militia was his dwindling halo around his head. Z plus has restored his awesome radiance that is the hallmark of any Guru. He must have been enjoying the excitement of astute trickster who instead of getting scared of the heightened threat succeeded in surfing it. Z plus has included his name in the club of select few, the membership of which is a rare opportunity to enjoy high profile status. Prime minister, cabinet ministers, Chief Ministers, Chief Justice of Supreme Court and High Court are some of the VVIP’s enjoying Z plus security cover. The refusal of Supreme Court to entertain security threat has been answered in a befitting manner by Haryana Government. As a part of bonanza, Dera Mukhi will get two custom made bullet proof cars, 36 commandoes with highly sophisticated weapons, and an electronic pulse jammer vehicle to immobilize any remote device in the area. This will add to the grandeur of a guru who claims to command paranormal powers at his command. His disciples cannot remain unmoved at the splendor of their Guru’s power not less than Chief Ministers, Chief Justices and Prime Minister of India. [Read more →]
Hours after a court issued a conditional arrest warrant against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Dera has alleged that “excesses” are being committed against its followers. A meeting to chalk out its action plan to counter the attempts to “terrorise” them was scheduled for today (June 21).
Dera: We will counter excesses by anti-socials
Following the court order, the Dera followers last night (June 20) held a congregation in Sirsa, after which it asked supporters from all the states to converge in Sirsa.
“The Dera has convened an emergent meeting tomorrow to take further action to counter excesses on the Dera followers by some anti-social elements,” a release issued by the sect said.
It said some anti-social elements are “openly creating an atmosphere of terror” against peaceful followers of Dera.
It asked its followers to be “prepared for any eventuality and make any sacrifice”.
Tension in Sirsa
Clashes took place between some Sikh community members and Dera supporters leading to tension. Security is being stepped up in Sirsa with deployment of additional paramilitary forces.
Sources say that in the third letter of apology, the Dera head has removed the affix `Satguru’ from his name which was objected to by the clergy, and used the word ‘sant’ instead.
The state was hit by a sectarian strife in which one person was killed and over 50 were injured after head of Dera Sacha Sauda appeared in an advertisement in various newspapers on May 13 showing him as dressed as tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.
News Source: Times Now.
Bathinda court today issued arrest warrant against baba Ram Raheem of Sauda sect. Yesterday the court kept the decision on the warrant application reserved. But today acting on the application of Punjab police for arrest warrant court issued the warrants.
On the other hand from some unconfirmed sources it came in news that Sect today issued another apology. This time the apology is addressed to Sikh community. Till the last news the exact apology was not available to press yet.
After the police got the arrest warrants, Punjab police has to get permission from Haryana Government to get Baba arrested. Next few days are going to be very boiling on this issue because the dera followers will do everything to stop the police from arresting Baba.
BHATHINDA (PUNJAB): A court on Tuesday reserved its order till tomorrow on an application filed by Punjab Police seeking an arrest warrant against head of Dera Sacha Sauda Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs.
Police on Monday had filed an application in the court of Duty Magistrate K L Khitchi seeking a warrant against the Dera Chief, claiming that they had “sufficient evidence” against him.
The arguments lasted for about 20 minutes, during which the prosecution told the court that the police had raided the Dera of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh at Sirsa twice in the recent past to arrest him.
Both the attempts by police were unsuccessful, the prosecution said adding, there were several “premis” (followers) of Baba Gurmeet present in the Dera premises.
However, the judge noted that police did not have sufficient evidence to seek arrest warrant against the Dera head.
After the judge’s observation, the prosecution sought a day’s time following which the court reserved its order till tomorrow.
The judge posed some queries to the prosecution on how the police would enter the Dera.
A case was registered against the head of the Sirsa-based sect on May 20 for “hurting religious sentiments” of Sikhs.
The Dera chief was embroiled in controversy after an advertisement appeared in newspapers on May 13 purportedly showing him distributing “amrit” (nectar) while attired in a dress similar to that of tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.
After the incident, the state was hit by violence in which one person was killed and over 50 were injured.
The stand-off between the Dera head and the various Sikh organisations, including the Akal Takht, was somewhat defused after Baba Gurmeet tendered an apology.
It was with great fanfare that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal listed out his government’s achievements on the day the SAD-BJP/RSS regime completed its 100 days in power. It was also a day after Sirsa Dera Sacha Sauda head did a repeat performance of the so-called Jaam-e-Insa ceremony, an imitation of the Amrit Sanchar ceremony. Independent of the lackadaisical approach of the Akali Dal, the SGPC and the government, Sikhs across Punjab were taking their line from the Akal Takht, boycotting the social functions and nam-charcha dramas of dera followers and resisting attempts by dera men to install the Guru Granth Sahib for their functions.
Clever Badal knew it was such an advent of the panthic sentiment which may prove to be his undoing. So, hours after celebrating his government’s achievements (whatever they are), Badal was confabulating with the members of the SGPC, asking them to ensure that requests from anyone for borrowing the bir of Guru Granth Sahib are not denied!
Badal must be the first Sikh chief minister asking the premier religious shrine management body not to follow the directive of the Akal Takht.
In turn, the SGPC members were no less worried about the supremacy of the religious body. Their prime demand? “The SGPC members should be allowed the use of red beacon lights atop their vehicles,” member after member of the SGPC urged Badal. They said the officers in the area should extended the same courtesies to them as they do to the area MLA. [Read more →]
Chandigarh, June 16: A day after two Sikh activists were nabbed for conspiring to kill Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarawala in Mohali, the Moga police today registered a sedition case against some unknown pro Khalistan persons for threatening the life of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his followers.
A report from Moga today said taking stringent action against attempts by terrorist outfits to regroup and target religious leaders in the state, the district police registered a case of sedition against some unknown pro Khalistani persons in view of some extremely provocative computerised posters threatening Dera Sacha Sauda followers.
The move comes on the heels of the Mohali police nabbing former Bhindarawale Tiger Force (BTF) terrorist Sangat Singh Bawani’s son Gurcharan Singh ”Kala” and his accomplice Sawranjit Singh ”Bobby”, a local leader, for planning to kill controversial religious leader Bhaniarawala and forming the Khalsa Action Committee for the purpose.
According to Mohali SSP Ranbir Singh Khatra, the two had confessed to the plot and a .455 bore pistol, a .30 bore revolver and two grenades were recovered from them. The duo were nabbed for attempting to snatch police weapons in Bhakhra canal siphon in Jhalliana village and loot a Kurali-based trader. According to the police, Bobby, a rape accused and Kala, an attempt to murder accused, met in the high security Nabha jail where they were pursuaded by former terrorists, including Daljit Singh Bittu, Balbir Singh Beera and Gursharan Singh Gama, associated with Kala’s father, to eliminate Baba Bhaniarawala for alleged desecration of the Sikh holy book some years ago. [Read more →]
