‘Marjeeve’ start march only to be arrested after travelling a short distance

Rejecting the Akal Takht directive that asked "individuals and organisations" to desist from chalking out their own programmes against Dera Sacha Sauda, Panj Pyaras selected by radical Sikh bodies for Dharam Yudh Morcha today sent 11 'marjeeve' (persons ready to sacrifice their lives for the religion) towards Salabatpura dera from Takht Damdama Sahib.

The exercise, however, was nothing more than a symbolic act, with the police arresting all the 11 persons travelling in a vehicle carrying a "press" tag at a check-point about 15 kilometres from Talwandi Sabo, near Maur. Bathinda SP Ajay Maluja said these were preventive arrests.

Hardliner Daljit Singh Bittu, who spearheaded the move today, dubbed the Akal Takht directive as "politically motivated". "We honour the 'real' hukamnama issued by the Akal Takht in May 2007," Bittu said, asserting that the 'marjeeve' would head towards Salabatpura every Sunday.

With this, Bittu is likely to find himself in direct collision with the Akal Takht. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said he would announce the next course of action on Monday after getting all the details. Speakers, who spoke at the Diwan organised on the occasion, also rejected the Akal Takht directive, calling it "a personal viewpoint". The ruling SAD(B) and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were also targeted in the speeches.

However, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh distanced himself from today's programme. "If Panj Pyaras give their nod to the programme, they will defy the Akal Takht directive. In that case, they will be excommunicated," said Nandgarh, minutes before 'marjeeve' were given a go-ahead by the Panj Pyaras. In lieu of cancellation of the programme, Nandgarh said, the police had assured to release the Sikhs arrested by the Bathinda police last week. Nandgarh claimed that the police had also assured to "unconditionally" withdraw the case against Daduwal in case the radicals suspended today's programme.

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