Practically aimed at ensuring peace in the state, the Sikh clergy on Friday retracted its earlier edict (Hukamnama), issued from the Sikhs’ highest temporal seat, Akal Takht on September 24, pardoning controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. An emergency meeting at the Akal Takht was convened by Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and the decision was taken to retract their earlier edict, apparently with the view to bring normalcy in Punjab.
The earlier decision to pardon Dera head had evoked strong reactions in the state.
Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said they had earlier issued the <g data-gr-id="31">Hukamnama</g> but the whole <g data-gr-id="30">panth</g> did not accept it. “As per the wish of the whole community, the edict earlier delivered is reverted in the meeting of the five Jathedars today’’, he said. He added peace was the most important, which had led them to take the decision.
The new edict states that there is to be no pardon for the Sirsa-based Dera head who has been socially boycotted by the Sikhs since 2008. There were sharp reactions coming forth and criticism had been mounting against Sikh high priests for pardoning the Dera chief and Sikhs had hit the streets in the state.
The controversy relating to the Dera had even rocked the Punjab polls in 2007 and 2012 and it was in 2008 when Gurmeet Ram Rahim emulated himself as Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh at his <g data-gr-id="27">dera</g>, which angered the Sikhs and the Akal Takht ordered his social boycott.
But last month Takht had taken <g data-gr-id="23">decision</g> to accept the ‘apology’ of the controversial Dera chief and social boycott was removed, but today the same is <g data-gr-id="21">reverted</g>.
The Sikh organizations had even talked of convening the Sarbat Khalsa on the issue and protests had been staged in the state. The attacks had been witnessed on the Takht Jathedars at various places and the condemnations were pouring in and this forced the high priests to revert the decision.