CHANDIGARH: The Punjab assembly elections are over, but the trouble for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) does not seem to end as the Akal Takht (highest temporal seat of the Sikhs) has asked Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) to inquire into the allegation that some Sikh candidates have sought support of Dera Sacha Sauda in the elections, in violation of the edict of the Akal Takht.
According to sources, the Akal Takht Jathedar (high priest) Gurbachan Singh has written a letter to the SGPC asking it for the list of Sikh candidates who sought the support of the Dera besides directing the committee to inquire into the matter. He has also asked the committee to submit a report in this regard at the earliest.
Reportedly, for the state Assembly elections, not only the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidates but also Sikh candidates of other parties had sought the support of the Dera. The matter came to limelight as the Dera openly supported SAD and a few of the party candidates openly announced support for the Dera in holding a religious congregation of its chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in Punjab.
On May 17, 2007 Akal Takht had issued an edict directing social, political and religious boycott of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh and his followers for imitating Guru Gobind Singh. In 2015, the Dera chief was acquitted in the case by the local court.
Sources said that the candidates who took the support of the Dera include Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Jagdeep Singh Nakai, Sikander Singh Maluka, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Dilraj Singh Bhunder, Amit Ratan and Harpeet Singh , all of SAD.
“Our stand is clear, Sikhs cannot have any kind of contact with the Dera. We have always spoken against him (Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh) and his movies. He has serious criminal cases going against him,” said Manjinder Singh Sirsa, general secretary, Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee.
Meanwhile, in a letter to Akal Takht and SGPC president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, DGMC president Manjit Singh GK has demanded that action be taken against all the erring Sikh leaders. Both the leaders are office bearers of Delhi unit of SAD.