Chandigarh/ Rajpura: Various Sikh organisations held a close-door meeting at Rajpura yesterday to discuss their future strategy about holding a general gathering of Sikhs in wake of announcement of pardon to controversial dera Sirsa chief by five Singh Sahib.
The meeting was attended by Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Mann) president Simranjeet Singh Mann, Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi chief and former president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Paramjeet Singh Sarna, United Akali Dal (UAD) president Mohkam Singh and United Sikh Mission (Delhi) co-ordinator Harinder Singh besides other leaders of these parties.
After holding the meeting Sikh leaders addressed a press conference to announce their decisions. They said that a meeting of various Sikh organizations will be held on 12 October at Gurduara Shaheedan, Model Town, Ludhiana. They said that other Sikh organizations, including the Sant Samaj, and Sikh intellectuals will also be invited in this meeting to discuss the issue of holding general gathering of the Sikhs (to which they termed as the Sarbat Khalsa). They said that the Sikh organizations will also take decision about appointment of new Takhat Jathedars.
These leaders strongly criticised the Takhat Jathedars, the SGPC and Punjab’s ruling party Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) for making mockery of the Sikh community at social level by announcing so-called pardon to Dera Sauda Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. They alleged that the decision to pardon Dera Sirsa chief was announced under directions from Hindutva body Rashtriya Sawayamsewak Sangh (RSS).
Sikh leaders said that the date and place of general gathering of Sikhs will be announced after October 12 meeting.