Jalandhar: The Sikh diaspora had condemned the SAD for taking the support of Dera Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for its candidates.

Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director of US-Based North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), said the SAD (Badal) not only violated the edict of the Akal Takht, but also lowered the image of the highest seat of the Sikh religion.

Chahal urged the Akal Takht chief to call an emergency meeting of five ‘Singh Sahiban’ to excommunicate Akali candidates Dilraj Singh Bhundar from Sardulgarh, Jagdeep Singh Nakai from Mansa, Dr Nishan Singh from Budhlada, Harpreet Singh from Bhucho, Amit Rattan from Bathinda Rural, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu from Talwandi Sabo, Janmeja Singh Sekhon from Maur and Sikander Singh Maluka from Rampura Phul, from the Sikh Panth.

He said the global Sikh diaspora had still not forgotten Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh who had sparked a row after he made a public appearance in attire resembling that of the Tenth Sikh Guru. He said at that time the Akal Takht had issued an edict against him asking Sikhs to boycott the Dera chief and his followers.

He questioned that when Akal Takht’s edict on the social boycott of the Dera was in force then how any Sikh could dare to violate it. He demanded immediate excommunication of all those Akali Sikh candidates who sought support from the Dera chief.

The Tribune (tribuneindia.com, Feb 03, 2017)