Radha Soami Sect chief, Sikhs lay foundation stone of Shrine

Putting an end to a year-old controversy, the members of Sikh community and Radha Soami Sect today jointly laid the foundation stone of a Gurudwara inside the premises of the sect's headquarters at Beas, 45 km from here.
Radha Soami Sect chief Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon and Sikh hardliners, who were at loggerheads for allegedly demolishing the shrine by the Sect members last year, together laid the foundation stone for its reconstruction at the sect's headquarter premises.
Sikh hardliners demanded rebuilding the shrine as it hurt the sentiments of their community.
"We are very much with Sikh community and never consider that we are separate from Sikhs. For us founder of Sikhism Baba Nanak is supreme," Dhillon told reporters here.

Among prominent persons who were present at time of foundation stone laying ceremony included Dhillon, activists of SAD (Amritsar) Mann Harbir Singh Sandhu, Jarnail Singh Sakira, Imam Singh Mann, Sikh Hardliner preacher Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal, former MP Dhian Singh Mand, SGPC member Gurpeet Singh and Damdami Taksal Chief Bhai Mohkam Singh.
Before laying the foundation stone an ardas (prayer) was performed as per Sikh rituals, sources said. Sikh hardliners spent few hours inside the Dera Baba Jaimal Singh with Dhillon and also took a round of the 3,000 acres Dera.

After the ceremony they all paid obeisance at Golden temple here.

Jathedar (head) Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh while issuing clean chit to Dera Radha Soami sect Beas had recently said that Radha Soami sect has not committed any blasphemous act at village Warraich by demolishing the shrine, since Guru Granth Sahib was not present there, as it was shifted before the Gurdwara was demolished.
However, Sikh hardliners outfit were unhappy with the decision of Akal Takht and announced boycott of its Jathedar, demanding reconstruction of the shrine.
Dera Radha Soami also known as Dera Baba Jaimal Singh in Beas town, nearly 45 kilometres from here, is being headed by Dhillon with several followers across the nation.