A day after the Dera Sacha Sauda chief was sentenced to 20-year jail in two rape cases, the Akal Takht invited Sikh Premis to return to the fold.

Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh admitted that a section of the community, disillusioned with Sikhism, had gone astray and fallen prey to “dera operators”. In a damage-control exercise, he said a panel of Sikh intellectuals would be formed to review the situation and formulate guidelines.

Giani Gurbachan Singh said the Dharam Parchar Lehar should focus on the areas in Malwa from where the most number of Sikhs had switched loyalties to the dera. “Special ‘gurmat’ and ‘amrit sanchar’ programmes should be conducted in these areas. The SGPC should take the lead in this regard,” he said.

The Takht Jathedar claimed that of late many families had re-adopted Sikhism and started observing the code of conduct.

Hailing the CBI Special Court’s verdict, Giani Gurbachan Singh said it had proved that “justice can be delayed, but not denied”. “Such a landmark judgment would discourage people from succumbing to charlatans,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Jathedar directed Master Johar Singh, president of the Gurdwara Chhota Ghallughara management, to appear before the Akal Takht by September 7 to give an explanation about the immoral activities on the shrine premises. Johar Singh had failed to turn up on the designated date, August 28.

“If Master Johar Singh doesn’t appear before the Akal Takht, the course of action would be decided by the five high priests,” Giani Gurbachan Singh said.

Refusing to acknowledge the authority of the Akal Takht Jathedar, the Qadian gurdwara management has said that it will only accept the verdict of the Sarbat Khalsa-appointed parallel Jathedars.

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