Dera moves Kalam, wants Punjab govt sacked

The Dera Sacha Sauda on Thursday moved President A P J Abdul Kalam demanding dismissal of the Punjab government for 'politically manipulating' the sequence of events in the wake of the controversy involving its head despite the sect's efforts to broker peace with Sikhs.

Seeking immediate withdrawal of 'false cases' registered by Punjab Police against Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the action committee of the Sirsa-based sect, in a letter to Kalam, also demanded registration of case against those who are allegedly committing excesses on its followers.

The committee also sought action against those who had vandalised the property of Dera followers at different places in Punjab, the sect's spokesman Aditya Insaan said.

'All false cases registered against our followers by police should be withdrawn immediately,' the committee sought in the letter, copies of which were also sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Governors of Punjab and Haryana.

Insaan said despite the Dera chief apologizing to Gobind Singh -- the tenth Sikh Guru -- Sikh clerics 'failed to respond positively.'

He alleged forcible conversions of Hindus and Dalits were taking place.

"Those involved in forcible stopping of naam charcha (religious recitation) must be arrested immediately," he said.

"We are also exploring all legal options...When the police will arrive (to arrest Dera chief) we will then decide what action needs to be taken," he said.