Sekhon performed ‘seva’ at Bazidpur Gurdawara honouring religious punishment
Ferozepur, As many as 39 Sikh political leaders from the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal were awarded religious punishment (tankhah) by Akal Takht (Sikh religious authority) for seeking votes from Dera Sacha Sauda during the recent assembly elections.
These leaders had violated the 2007 directive of the Takht in which it had excommunicated the Dera head, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, for impersonating Guru Gobind Singh.
The candidates who took the support of the Dera include Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Jagdeep Singh Nakai, Sikander Singh Maluka, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Dilraj Singh Bhunder, Amit Ratan and Harpreet Singh from SAD besides others.
Honouring the ‘Hukamnama’ of Akal Takth, Janmeja Singh Sekhon along with his supporters, after paying obeisance at historical gurudawara Bazidpur, today performed the ‘seva’ – volunteer services such as cleaning shoes, cleaning utensils and cleaning the floor. He also prayed for apology by offering parshad of Rs.501 and Rs.5100 in the ‘golak’ besides listening to the kirtan.
On this occasion, Janmeja Singh Sekhon said, “I honour the orders of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and today, I have come honouring the ‘hukanama’ of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib to perform seva and prey for apology”.
Present among others were Sat Pal Singh, Member SGPC Talwandi Bhai, Darshan Singh Malsian, Jaswinder Singh Bootewala, SGPC Member , Darshan Singh Brar, Gurudawara Sahib Manager.
At the same time, it was a great set back to Dera Sachha Sauda, when many Sikh politicians from Punjab were found guilty by the SGPC of approaching Dera Sachha Sauda to seek votes before the Assembly polls, surrendered before the Akal Thakth and agreed to face religious punishment.
It is pertinent to mention here that these leaders were called on the basis of report submitted by a three-member panel of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) on March 6. The committee consisting of Amarjit Singh Chawla and Gurcharan Singh Grewal handed over the report to Akal Takht Jathedar (high priest) Gurbachan Singh last month. The committee had taken feedback from all 117 constituencies in the State. The report mentioned all candidates of political parties who took Dera's support.
The high priest Gurbachan Singh wrote a letter to the SGPC asking for the list of Sikh candidates who sought the Dera's support. The matter came to light as the Dera openly supported Shiromani Akali Dal and a few party candidates also openly announced that they would support the Dera in holding religious congregations for its chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in Punjab.
