India News Online » News Analysis » Indian Politics » 

Dera Sacha Sauda conflict with Sikhs - efforts for settlement stalled

	May 28, 2007

Efforts being made by an all-religion group led by Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh for a peaceful settlement of the controversy surrounding the Dera Sacha Sauda have run into a stonewall with the Dera leadership refusing to acknowledge any communication from the group. The Dera has moved the Supreme Court seeking protection for its over 100 institutions spread over 13 states. The court observed that the matter should be resolved politically, but posted it for further hearing for June 4.



It appears that the efforts for a settlement have run into problems over the demand for an unqualified apology from the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmit Ram Raheem Singh for allegedly imitating 10th Guru Gobind Singh. The Akal Takht, the supreme religious body of the Sikhs, has sought the vacation and sealing of all Dera premises. Swami Agnivesh has appealed for extension of the deadline given by the Akal Takht for vacating its centres which expired on May 27.



Swami Agnivesh said in New Delhi on May 26, “there is still hope and we have conducted long consultations with the Dera chief. But we need more time.” Asserting that all efforts would be made to prevent Punjab from `burning’, he said both Punjab and Haryana Chief Ministers were keen on resolving the issue.



Speaking in Chandigarh on May 25, Swami Agnivesh said, the situation in Punjab was highly explosive. He appealed to the Centre to intervene to prevent any confrontation between the Dera followers and the Sikh community. He said that he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi seeking their immediate intervention.



Swami Agnivesh gave the entire background and efforts made by the all-religion delegation to end the sensitive controversy through dialogue between leaders of the Sikh community and the Sirsa-based dera.



He felt that any delay in intervention may be detrimental to peace and communal harmony in the region.



Swami Agnivesh says the “problem needs to be tackled urgently and immediately.” He wants the Union Government and the UPA to use their good offices to prevail upon the Dera chief to tender an “unqualified apology” to assuage the hurt feelings of the Sikh community over his alleged “imitation of the 10th Sikh Guru” besides the replication of certain historic and sacred ceremonies like baptism.



On May 24, the Dera had made it clear that it had neither sent any draft or message to either the all-religion delegation or Swami Agnivesh conveying its intention to tender an “unqualified apology”.



Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Director-General of Police N.P.S. Aulakh made categorical statements that life and property of all Punjabis would be protected. The State Government has ordered night patrols and setting up of check-posts on major roads. The police and para-military forces have been instructed to prevent the brandishing of unsheathed swords, carrying of sharp-edged weapons and fire-arms.



In a week of fast pace developments, the Akal Takht on May 20 virtually rejected the expression of “regret” by the Dera Sacha Sauda chief. The bandh called by the Akal Takht on Tuesday, May 22, was generally peaceful in Punjab. But there were a few minor incidents in neighbouring states of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. On May 21, the Dera sent an SOS to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to mediate to resolve their confrontation with the Sikh community in the best interests of the country. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on May 21 said the least that the Dera Sacha Sauda chief could do was to apologise and seek “atonement for his sin.” He told reporters in Chandigarh that this would assuage hurt sentiments of the people and prevent the law and order situation from deteriorating further.



The BJP, a coalition partner in the Badal Government in Punjab, said that the party was deeply concerned over the developments in the state. A statement issued by the state unit of the party said the BJP will hold the Government led by Badal directly responsible for any loss of life and property.



The SGPC sought to blame the Congress and its president Sonia Gandhi for the Punjab developments. At an emergency meeting on May 23, the SGPC issued a statement accusing Sonia Gandhi of being hand in glove with the Haryana Government, adding that the Dera chief’s refusal to apologise indicated the political support he enjoyed. The SGPC accused the Congress of trying to jeopardise peace in Punjab.





Reports of Pakistan fishing in troubled waters



There are reports that Pakistan has rushed to fish in troubled Punjab waters in the wake of the Dera Sacha Sauda-Sikh feud. Sources in Chandigarh and New Delhi said the Babbar Khalsa International chief Wadhawan Singh Babbar, operating from Lahore under ISI patronage, has been in touch with radical elements in the Sikh community.



They said that Wadhawan had worked on the radical Sikh priest whose Gurudwara near Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda was the catalyst for setting off the clash with the Dera over advertisements featuring its chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, attired as Guru Gobind Singh.



Telephone intercepts with agencies clearly bring out the interest of the ISI auxiliary in fanning the confrontation which has triggered fears of revival of extremism in Punjab.



The meddling in Punjab has been part of Pakistan’s game plan to stir trouble once again in a state which beat back Khalistani secessionists. Pakistan’s role in fueling the Khalistan movement, along with the insurgency in J&K, as part of the strategy to avenge the liberation of Bangladesh, is well established.



If the restoration of normalcy marked a setback to the plot to inflict a war of ‘thousand cuts’ on India, Wadhawan’s meddling in the Sikh-Dera clash brings out the desire to play the destabilisation game once again.