Dera chief tenders apology: SGPC sources

The Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda sect has made a fresh offer to the Akal Takht, with the Dera head Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh tendering an apology to the Sikh community (Guru Panth) for his alleged blasphemous act of imitating Guru Gobind Singh and enacting the holy baptism ceremony that occupies an important place in Sikhism.

The apology letter addressed to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vidanti was delivered to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Avtar Singh Makkar by Congress legislator from Bathinda Harminder Singh Jassi, a close relative of Ram Raheem at a rest house in ohali on Wednesday evening.

Though the SGPC chief refused to discuss the contents of the letter with media persons, he indicated that it had come from the Sacha Sauda head.

In fact, the contents of the letter were discussed by Jathedar Makkar with Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna and other religious leaders at the rest house.

According to SGPC sources, the letter with certain modifications and signed by Ram Raheem apologised to the Sikh community for having hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs for imitating Guru Gobind Singh during a sect function at Salabatpura village in Bathinda district last month.