The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sever links with Dera, Bitta urges parties

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Tuesday, Aug 07, 2007
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New Delhi

Sever links with Dera, Bitta urges parties

Special Correspondent

Photo: Akhilesh Kumar

Joginder Singh, father of slain Ranjeet Singh, addressing media persons along with M.S. Bitta, president of AIATF, in Chandigarh on Monday.

CHANDIGARH: Sounding a note of caution against the rise of religion-based terrorism and attempts to disturb the hard-earned peace in Punjab, All India Anti-Terrorist Front chairman M. S. Bitta has appealed to all political parties to sever links with the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda.

Talking to reporters at the Chandigarh Press Club, Mr. Bitta, who claimed to have visited various villages in the south-western region of Punjab and neighbouring parts of Haryana, said he came across shocking instances where numerous families narrated their experiences of being terrorised by henchmen at the instance of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He said AIATF would stand up against any attempt by the Dera to terrorise any citizen.

Mr. Bitta underlined the need for constitution of a committee with representatives from all religions, especially the Akal Takhat and the Shankaracharya, to probe the activities of the Dera chief who, he charged, had used “dubious means” like enticements and coercion to bring about large-scale religious conversions.

Mr. Bitta alleged that there were glaring examples of the Dera chief resorting to dubious means to prevent erosion of his support base after the media exposed his various deeds. He charged that a conspiracy was hatched by some mischievous elements who first managed to get the Dera chief to imitate Guru Gobind Singh’s attire and rituals of baptism and followed it up by creating a major sentimental hype in Punjab, traumatising people across the globe.

Mr. Bitta also presented before the media persons Joginder Singh, a resident of Khanpur Koliyan village in Kurukshetra district of Haryana, whose only son, Ranjit Singh, was killed allegedly by men close to the Dera chief.

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