SAD (A) chief Mann alleges ‘house arrest’

SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann on Sunday alleged police were not allowing him to move out of his residence at Talaniya village here, days after sedition charge was slapped against him over convening of the November 10 Sikh congregation near Amritsar.

However, police have denied the charge.

Police have slapped sedition charges against 20 Sikh leaders so far who had organised ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (grand assembly of Sikhs) on the outskirts of Amritsar. Scores of Sikh leaders have been arrested and put behind the bars.

In an open confrontation with the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the SGPC, which appoints Sikh head priests, Sikh hardliners had organised ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ on November 10 and removed ‘jathedars’ (caretakers) of three takhts.

They alleged that SGPC was being controlled by the SAD and it had become political. The Sikhs leaders appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara, the convict in Beant Singh assassination case, as jathedar of Akal Takht. On Sunday, a large number of police personnel assembled in front of the Mann’s residence.

Mann told reporters that he was going to meet Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner to submit memorandum against killings in Paris but police did not allow him to leave.

Later, the memorandum was submitted to Fatehgarh Sahib SDM Pooja Syal. Mann later accused Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Congress leader Amarinder Singh of “betraying” Sikhs. Mann, who was among the organisers of ‘Sarbat Khalsa’, was booked for sedition along with others by police on November 13.