Dera chief says Punjab govt violating his rights

Chandigarh, June 29 (IANS) Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Friday accused the Akali Dal government in Punjab of violating his fundamental rights as the ongoing controversy between the sect and Sikhs reached the Punjab and Haryana high court.

The controversial sect chief, who lives at his headquarters near Sirsa town in Haryana, 300 km from here, accused Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of violating his fundamental rights by not allowing him to practise and propagate social, religious and spiritual activities through his sect.

Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution guarantee the right to freedom of religion and freedom to manage religious affairs.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who commands a wide following, became controversial last month after dressing up as Guru Gobind Singh, angering Sikhs and sparking clashes between Sikh groups and Dera followers.

The Dera godman got relief from the Punjab and Haryana high court Friday through an interim bail on his arrest in a case registered against him by the Punjab police in Bathinda town for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs.

He said he will move a separate application to get the investigation of the case against him transferred to a central agency outside the purview of the state government.

The Badal government had allowed the state police to arrest him following a June 20 non-bailable warrant for his arrest issued by a Bathinda court.

The godman has been accused of blasphemy by attiring himself like 10th Sikh guru Gobind Singh.

In his petition submitted before the high court Friday, the dera chief stated, "The Punjab government headed by the Akali-BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) combine has granted sanction in this regard and thereby wants to stop the petitioner from practising and propagating social, religious and spiritual activities of Dera Sacha Sauda."

The sect - which claims entries in the Guinness records and Limca book of records for the biggest ever blood donation camps in the service of humanity organised - has said that it is being hounded by the Akali government as the Akalis thought that the Dera management sided with the Congress in the state assembly elections held in February.

"The case is politically motivated," the Dera chief said in his petition. The godman alleged he was getting threats and feared for his life.

The Dera chief also offered to join investigations into the case against him with the Punjab police "as and when required by the police."

The Dera chief said he had never intentionally dressed up like the 10th Sikh guru. The godman claimed he had even apologised for hurting Sikh sentiments but the Akal Takht - the highest temporal seat of Sikhs - had earlier rejected his apologies....

By Jaideep Sarin IANS