INLD opposes Akal Takht's move to pardon Gurmeet Singh

Chandigarh: The Indian National Lok Dal party on Wednesday opposed the decision of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat for Sikhs, to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of blasphemy charges, saying the Dera head does not deserve exoneration.

"We strongly oppose it (decision to pardon Dera head)," said Leader of Opposition and INLD MLA Abhay Chautala while addressing media here today.

Pointing towards chief of the Sirsa-headquartered sect, Chautala said, "There is no room for any pardon for a man who is booked under section 302 (murder) and 376 (rape) of IPC and who has also hurt the sentiments of Sikhs by dressing himself up as Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru."

Seeking to put behind a bitter row between them, the Akal Takht had last week said it has pardoned Singh, who is accused of hurting the sentiments of Sikhs, following a letter of apology from him.

Meanwhile, some Sikh organisations today observed Punjab bandh in protest against the decision of Akal Takht to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Lashing out at the Manohar Lal Khattar government in the state, Chautala said every section of the society was fed up with the BJP led government.

The opposition leader, on the occasion, also lashed out at the Haryana government alleging that it has failed in ensuring purchase of paddy in the state for the Kharif season, as a result of which growers are upset who are unable to sell their produce.

He also hit out at the government for higher electricity bills being received by consumers. "The state government has raised energy by 43 per cent in clandestine manner," he alleged.

Chautala said INLD was organising 'Samman Diwas' on November 1 marking the birth anniversary of party's founder leader Chaudhary Devi Lal in Rohtak and invite Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav for the event.

Earlier, the party had planned to organise the event at Ram Leela Maidan in Delhi but it could not get the space on that day for holding the progarmme.