Gurdwara demolition: Akal Takht gives clean chit to Beas dera followers
Giving a clean chit to followers of Dera Radha Soami sect based at Beas, the Akal Takht today stated that they had not indulged in any blasphemous act in demolition of a gurdwara in Warraich village.
Giving a clean chit to followers of Dera Radha Soami sect, the Akal Takht on Sunday stated the community had not indulged in any blasphemous act in demolition of a gurdwara in Warraich village.
Members of the Sikh community had alleged that followers of the Beas-based sect had demolished an old gurdwara on a plot owned by them at Warraich village in Beas area of Amritsar district, following which SGPC set up a three-member panel to investigate the matter.
Talking to reporters in Amritsar on Sunday, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said the SGPC fact-finding committee revealed that the gurdwara on the disputed site and 'Guru Granth Sahib' had been shifted long ago and recitations from the holy book too had stopped at the place.
The Jathedar further said that the complaint filed before the Akal Takht was in regard to sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and not in reference to the demolition of the gurdwara.
Gurbachan Singh asked all Sikh organisations to stop their protests and said strict action would be taken against those who did not adhere to the decision.
Members of the Sikh community and followers of Radha Soami sect were at loggerheads over a disputed land that belonged to Warraich panchayat and was allegedly sold to the dera without obtaining the mandatory approval from panchayats director.
Tension mounted further after members of dera Radha Soami sect allegedly allegedly destroyed a section of the one-room gurdwara existing on the land.
To resolve the dispute, the Akal Takht had directed SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar to form a three-member committee to investigate into the matter and submit its report.