SGPC 'remark' causes flutter

SGPC chief says he did not know much about law and that the SGPC would enforce eviction of all Dera properties in Punjab, reports Hitender Rao.

In a development that could hold back the peace negotiations revived on Tuesday by a delegation of religious leaders, a statement attributed to SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar by a news channel on Wednesday created fresh doubts in the Dera management, which was well on course to settle the wording for a fresh peace pact.

HT Image

Makkar was quoted by the TV channel as having said that he did not know much about law and that the SGPC would enforce eviction of all Dera properties in Punjab on May 27, as per the Akal Takht directive.

In Sirsa, stating that they now had certain apprehensions, Dera chief spokesperson Dr Aditya Arora said they were waiting for the air to clear as the statement ascribed to the SGPC had created a lot of uncertainty in the minds of Dera followers.

"We are waiting to hear whether this is really the stand of the SGPC," he said.

The spokesman said the negotiation process would also remain suspended till they were sure that the mediators would be able to deliver.