The five Sikh head priests have rejected the apology tendered by Dehra Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.

The Akal Takht dismissed the apology as "a shrewd tactic to divert attention".

In conflict with the Dera chief for his alleged imitation of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, the five Sikh high priests, at a meeting in Amritsar, said the social boycott of Dera followers announced by them would continue.

A resolution adopted at the meeting said the apology given by the Dera chief to Guru Gobind Singh on Sunday night was "not graceful in language and spirit".

The priests said the apology was "no more than a shrewd tactic of the Dera chief to divert attention from the fact that he himself is not forthcoming with the apology but is instead trying to hide behind nameless followers".

The Takht described the Dera chief as "shrewd and egoistic".

"When the apology is sincere and from the core of the heart, then the Guru (Gobind Singh) is magnanimous to forgive. If he has sincerely apologized, then the Guru would forgive him," the resolution said adding "but he has worded the apology in a cunning manner".

"God always pardons the guilty", the Sikh priests said in the statement.

The Akal Takht meeting presided by Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti said if the Dera Chief and his followers had expressed the apology from the core of their heart to Guru Gobind Singh, the creator of Khalsa Panth (Sikh religion) would forgive them.

"If they have indulged in mischief, the Guru would take care of them," it said.