Akali leadership jittery as Sikh groups close ranks

The Akali leadership in Punjab would be anxiously monitoring the situation at Bargari village on Sunday as Sikh protesters from across the State plan to gather at the ‘bhog’ ceremony of two youths killed in police firing.

According to sources, Sikh organisations and Panthic bodies, who have been organising agitations in various parts of the State separately, have decided to come together and take their agitation forward. At a meeting held in Bathinda, in which leaders of various Sikh organisations had participated, it was reportedly decided that all Sikhs should come together and corner the State government for its lackadaisical attitude adopted in investigating the incidents of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Prominent Sikh leaders who participated in the meeting included Bhai Panthpreet Singh Khalsa, Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal, Simranjit Singh Mann, Bhai Gurdeep Singh Bathinda, Baba Ranjeet Singh Dhadrian wala, Baba Daler Singh Kheriwale, Bhai Mohkam Singh, and Bhai Amrik Singh.

It was also decided at the meeting that the next course of agitation in support of their demands would be announced at Bargari on Sunday. It was in Bargari village on October 12, where pages of the Sikh holy book were found scattered and tension started simmering across the State.

Reacting strongly to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejri wal’s visit to the State, the Shiromani Akali Dal accused him of stoking communal passions.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Kejriwal visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar. He demanded action against police officials involved in firing on Sikh protesters at Behbal Kalan and also against those who ordered firing.