Shiromani Akali Dal Panch Pardhani
Talwandi Sabo (May 16, 2010): Various Sikh organizations led by Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) today marched from Takht Damdama Sahib to Bathinda to protest against Dera Sacha Sauda and pressure the government to release SAD (Panch Pardhani) Chairman Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu.
Activists who gathered at Takht Damdama Sahib accused the Parkash Singh Badal government of conniving with the Sirsa-based Dera “after using his support for the election of his daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur from Bathinda“. All the speakers including Harpal Singh Cheema of SAD (Panch Pardhani), Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj, Darshan Singh Jagga, Sukhwinder Singh (SGGS Satikar Sabha, Haryana) and Baljinder Singh (Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj), accused Badal of sabotaging their campaign against the Dera.
They alleged those committed to implementing the Akal Takht edict of May 17, 2007, for ensuring the closure of the Dera Sacha Sauda set-up at Salabatpura were being put behind bars.
Sikhs protesting against Badal Government
A “shaheedi jatha“ of 21 Sikh women (whose family members have been either killed or arrested during clashes with Dera followers) attempted to set out towards the Dera at Salabatpura, and offered bangles for all Takht jathedars and SGPC members for their “failure to implement the hukamnama”. However, the police took them in preventive custody just as they stepped out of the main gate of Takht Damdama Sahib.
Later, other Sikh activists marched towards Bathinda to submit a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, but were stopped near the city bus stand by a heavy police contingent, where Addn. DC, Siban accepted the memorandum.