Sikh clergy to meet on Tue; police on high alert

Top Sikh clerics will meet in Amritsar on Tuesday to decide the future course of action in the wake of an apology tendered by the Dera Sacha Sauda chief, even as Punjab police stayed on high alert across the state which remained calm on Monday.

Senior police officers reviewed the law and order situation at regular intervals as security around religious shrines and the Sirsa-based sect's centres in the state was further beefed up.

The police force would remain on maximum alert till June 6, the anniversay of Operation Blue Star, official sources said.

Police and para-military personnel would continue flag marches in the state to instill a sense of security among the people, especially those living in rural areas, DIG Ishwar Singh said.

"Besides, the security around gurdwaras, temples and the sect's Deras, including the one at Salabatpura in Bhatinda district, has been further strengthened," he said.

Meanhwile, the Sikh clergy will meet on Tuesday to decide the course of action in the light of apology tendered by Dera chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti said the high priests would discuss the matter

On Sunday night, in his apology letter directed to Guru Gobind Singh, the Dera chief had expressed kshama (apology) for his acts as he had never intended to imitate the 10th Guru by dressing up like him, which hurt Sikh sentiments.

According to intelligence sources, the governments of Punjab and Haryana had been working in coordination with government of India officials to defuse the situation in Punjab, which seemed to be getting out of hand and and which could send Punjab back into a situation where militancy would take the upper hand.

"Jathedar Vedanti has called for a meeting of the five jathedars on May 29 at 11 am to consider the apology letter sent by Dera chief. The jathedar had issued a warning that unless Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh tendered an apology by May 27 all the deras in the state would be closed. The Dera has also petitioned the Supreme Court for seeking protection, but the court refused protection saying it was a political matter. The petition would now come up for hearing on June 4," a senior government official said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has spoken to Vedanti and asked him to assist in defusing the tense situation.

This explains why Vedanti has advanced the date of meeting, which was scheduled to take place on May 31.

Former chairman of the National Minorities Commission Tarlochan Singh, who raised the matter in Rajya Sabha, has appealed to the jathedars to accept the apology and give up the path of confrontation.

(With PTI inputs)