Defer conference: Religious leaders to Sikhs

CHANDIGARH: Religious leaders on Monday asked Sikhs to defer their congregation scheduled to be held in Haryana this week to mount pressure on the state government for the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda chief for his alleged blasphemous act.

They appealed to Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti and SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar to defer the conference scheduled to be held at Ratia in Fatehabad district on Wednesday.

"They (Makkar and Vedanti) should ask the Sikh community not to take any step which may heighten tension or incite violence," said Sarva Dharam Sansad, an organisation of leaders of various religions.

The violence in Ferozepur on Sunday between Sikhs and Dera followers in which 25 people were injured had already caused concern, it said.

"The conference at Ratil will further aggravate the situation," the leaders said.

The people wanted peace, they said adding only dialogue could help resolve the stand-off between Sikhs and the Sirsa-based sect.

The statement was issued on behalf of Swami Agnivesh, Father Dominice Emanuel, Jain Saint Lok Prakash Lokesh and Maulana Jameel Ilyasi Ahmed.

On Sunday, the Sikh clergy decided to hold a gathering of community members on July 11 as scheduled to put pressure on the Haryana government to arrest Dera chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.