New Delhi: The Dera controversy has reared its ugly head in Punjab again. Close to 500 Sant Samaj supporters have threatened to court arrest at Chandigarh on Tuesday demanding action against Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Punjab police have already moved an application at a local court in Bathinda, seeking arrest warrants against the Dera chief. But the protesting Sikh organisations are calling the government's move a diversionary tactic.
An FIR has also been lodged against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
Sectarian violence broke out after the Dera had issued an advertisement with their leader wearing clothes resembling those of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. One person was killed and over 50 injured in the sectarian strife that followed.
The Dera chief has been accused of blaspheming the Sikh religion. The Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat of Sikhs — had asked the Dera to wind up its campuses from Punjab by May 27 but that did not happen. The Sikh community was also asked to socially boycott the Dera chief and all his followers — numbering nearly 2 million in Punjab.
Later the Dera Chief had issued an apology after strong political pressure on him. But the Sikh community was not entirely satisfied and they continue to hold protests demanding his arrest.
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