Swami Agnivesh urges Manmohan to intervene in Dera-Sikh conflict

After failing to receive an apology form Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, social activist Swami Agnivesh today called for Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs intervention into the matter.

New Delhi, May 25 : After failing to receive an apology form Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, social activist Swami Agnivesh today called for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention into the matter.

"We feel that any loss of time will be at cost of peace in India in general and in Punjab in particular, knowing fully well that Punjab is a border state and its past has been a lesson for us. We request you (the Prime Minister) to intervene into the matter immediately," Swami Agnivesh stated in a letter to the Prime Minister that he released today.

Earlier in the week, an all-religion delegation, headed by Swami Agnivesh, went to Sirsa to work as peace broker in the Dera -Sikh conflict that erupted after Dera chief Ram Raheem allegedly impersonated Sikh's tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has advanced to May 27 the hearing of a petition seeking protection to the properties of the Dera Sacha Sauda and its followers all across the country in view of an ultimatum issued by the Akal Takht.

On May 20, the Akal Takht served an ultimatum to the Punjab Government to close down all the Dera camps in the State by May 27.

On Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal held an emergency meeting of his party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLAs and MPs on the differences with the Dera Sacha Sauda.

Badal has assured the Dera sect of full protection.

After the meeting, Badal said that nobody will be allowed to harm the Deras and peace will be maintained at all cost in the State.

A sectarian row was sparked off last week after the publication of an advertisement in which Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh was shown in a dress similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.

The Sikh body has since been demanding that the Dera shut all of its camps in Punjab.

Gurmeet Singh has expressed regret, but Sikh leaders are not satisfied and want a public apology, which he has refused to give so far.

Skirmishes between rival groups flared into mob violence last week when the Akal Takht urged Sikhs to boycott the Dera Sacha Sauda sect.

One person was killed and over 50 were injured in sectarian clashes in different cities, mainly in Punjab, Haryana and Jammu.

ANI