Dera row: SGPC executive grants extension to panel

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee executive today granted extension till March 7 to a panel probing the alleged violation of Akal Takht edict by Sikh leaders who sought support from Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda during the Punjab Assembly elections.
The meeting of the executive was held at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib under SGPC president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar.
On January 28, Sikh leaders made a beeline at Dera Sacha Sauda to seek favours from its followers.
Some leaders reportedly announced to facilitate the organisation of dera congregations on Punjab soil if voted to power.
Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was held guilty of impersonating Guru Gobind Singh in 2007 by Akal Takht which had pronounced an edict to the Sikh community not to have any kind of social or political relations with him.

On February 6, Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh had directed SGPC to scrutinise the matter and submit a report within three weeks.

The SGPC had then formed a three-member panel comprising senior vice-president Baldev Singh Kaimpur, general secretary Amarjit Singh Chawla and executive committee member Gurcharan Singh Garewal.
The panel had submitted preliminary report to the SGPC but sought more time to reach a conclusion.
Prof Badungar said it was a sensitive issue pertaining to the faith of the Sikh community and they did not want to take any decision in haste.
On the insistence of the panel, we have taken into consideration its request for reviewing their preliminary investigations before finally submitting it to Akal Takht Sahib, he said.

He said the issue does not only pertain to the Sikh leaders of SAD but also of other parties so extension of panel was granted and now it will submit its report till March 7.
He said panel was not given extension in wake of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee elections.