SGPC rejects Dera Sacha Sauda chiefs apology

The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) today rejected the fresh apology letter sent by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on the ground that the letter reflected no seriousness.SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar demanded an explanation from the Dera chief, as to why he had impersonated Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs.

Chandigarh, June 27 : The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) today rejected the fresh apology letter sent by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on the ground that the letter reflected no seriousness.SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar demanded an explanation from the Dera chief, as to why he had impersonated Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs are meeting in Amritsar to discuss the fresh apology by the Dera sect.

The Dera chief had issued a fresh apology letter to the SGPC and other Sikh organisations apparently to end the stand-off with Sikhs.

The move came on a day when a court had issued a conditional arrest warrant against the Dera Chief for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community.

However, some Sikh leaders have raised objections to the letter as it was not signed by the Dera chief. They demanded that the sect should resend a signed apology letter.

Sikh organisations across the State have been mounting pressure on the Government to arrest the Dera chief.

Clashes between Sikhs and the activists of the sect erupted on May 14, a day after an advertisement appeared in local newspapers, showing Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh dressed up in clothes similar to those worn by Guru Gobind Singh.

A case was registered against the Dera chief on May 20.

ANI