Click to play videoNew Delhi: Dera Sacha Sauda, a religious sect, on Saturday said it regretted a newspaper ad which showed its chief dressed as Sikh Guru Gobind Singh leading to sectarian clashes across Punjab and parts of North India.
"We never intended to imitate Guru Gobind Singh and we are regretful of the whole chain of events," a press release issued by the sect’s PR department in Sirsa said.
The ad, which was published in some newspapers on May 13, showed Dera chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh attired as Guru Gobind Singh. The sect admitted that the ad had "created misconceptions” and was “unfortunate".
"Whatever incidents had happened for the past few days have hurt us. We have high regards for all Sikh Gurus and have lots of love for Sikhs and the Sikh religion and the entire humankind. We never intended to hurt anyone; we want to do good to everyone and would never like to hurt anyone," the sect said.
One person died and over 100 were injured in clashes between Dera supporters and Sikhs protesting against the ad in the last six days.
The statement came hours before the 72-hour ultimatum, set by the Sikh clergy to the Punjab Government to arrest the Dera chief for blasphemy, ends Sunday noon.
An aide of Akal Takht jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti told PTI that five high priests would meet in Amritsar on Sunday to discuss the Dera statement. The Akal Takht maintains all Sikh shrines in Punjab.
Daljit Singh Cheema, advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, said the government would accept the decision of the five high priests. "Whatever decision the Singh Sahibs take would be acceptable to us," he said.
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee President Avtar Singh Makkar, too, said the decision of the priests would be “acceptable to all Sikhs” but said the Dera chief should have apologised.
On Saturday, Punjab returned to normalcy after five days of sectarian clashes even as the state police withdrew the security cover of the Dera chief at his headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana.
"We have withdrawn the Punjab Police security provided to the Dera chief. The security cover had been given to him by the previous Congress government," Director General of Police NPS Aulakh said in Chandigarh.
The police security cover for the sect chief comprised four personal security officers, who all have been asked to report back to Punjab.
(With IANS and PTI)
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