Takht chief calls for calm

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 18

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh today called upon the Sikh masses to maintain peace and harmony in the wake of murderous attack on Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale. 

The SGPC, American Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and various other Sikh organisations also flayed the attack. Giani Gurbachan Singh, said the attack was work of anti-Panthic forces and smelt of deep controversy.

He asked the government to expeditiously carry out investigation and arrest the accused at the earliest.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said unidentified assailants had misused the principle of 'sewa' (service) as they had attacked the Sikh preacher in the garb of doing service to offer water to people. He asked the government to arrest the accused at the earliest.

The US-based Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president, JS Hothi, and coordinator Dr Pripal Singh expressed concern over the "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state. They said the government failed to protect the common people.

Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka, also an AAP leader, condemned the attack. He said the attackers who had tried to misuse the noble concept of "guru ka langar" must be brought to book at the earliest.

Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh Bittu said the attack had nothing to do with Khalistan. He said as long as the perpetrators of the crime were not arrested nothing can be said with certainty. He said the attack on the Sikh preacher was to eliminate the independent voice.       

Akhand Kirtani Jatha International head Bhai Baldev Singh appealed to the government and the police to probe the matter thoroughly and nab the conspirators behind the attack whom he called anti-Panthic forces.