AMRITSAR – Following intense opposition by some Sikh leaders and groups, Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale has cancelled his three-day ‘Gurmat Parchar Samagam’ at Amritsar. The Gurmat Samagam was scheduled for three days from November 14.
Dhadrianwale cited the tense law and order situation in the holy city for his decision. However, he announced that all ‘Diwans’ would continue as per schedule in other cities.
On November 8, supporters of the Damdami Taksal, Sant Samaj and other Sikh organisations had approached Akal Takht, the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner, demanding that Dhadrianwale be stopped from holding a programme here. They had feared a repeat of the 1978 Nirankari violence.
In a video message uploaded on social media on Thursday, Dhadrianwale said there were some people who did want the religious programme in Amritsar t ohappen.
“You know, if we want, we can hold the ‘diwan’ in Amritsar and the city’s administration has also assured us of security. They have deployed over 3,000 security personnel, but I don’t want to create any tension in Guru ki Nagri,” he said.
He also criticised some Sikh dera leaders for allegedly amassing ‘bheta’ (donations) by organising congregations. Stating that he had been doing ‘samagam’ at various places, he said he wondered why a few people or dera leaders were opposing his programme in Amritsar.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Amrik Singh Pawar said, “We had made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident.”