The Sikh clergy on Tuesday refused to accept the Dera Sacha Sauda’s apology, calling it “half-hearted”, and appealed to all Sikhs to continue their peaceful boycott of the sect.
In a Gurmata (the will of the Guru) — which was issued following a marathon meeting at the Akal Takht secretariat — the five high priests said, “Guru Gobind Singh, from whom they have sought the apology, is pardoner, provided it is tendered with clear intentions.”
The priests warned Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to discontinue his “activities”, which they said were aimed at hurting the sentiments of other religions and faiths. The sect, they said, had issued a “cleverly-tendered proxy apology” after its chief had indulged in the sacrilegious act of emulating the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
“A man living a truthful life seeks forgiveness for mistakes boldly. But a scoundrel and coward hides behind his followers for safety,” the strongly-worded Gurmata said.
The clergy also appealed to all formerly-Sikh followers of the Dera to return to their original religion by appearing in nearby gurdwaras.
In Sirsa, Dera spokesman Dr Aditya Arora declined to comment. The sect had no information about the Akal Takht’s statement, he said. The Dera had tendered its apology to Guru Gobind Singh on Sunday.
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