Dera row: Centre issues fresh advisory to Punjab

The Centre today issued a fresh advisory to the Punjab government asking it to take all steps to maintain law and order in view of tomorrow's bandh, called by the Sikh high priests.

The home ministry was in touch with the state government and was closely monitoring the stand-off between the followers of Dera Sacha Sauda and the Sikh community, ministry sources said.

Meanwhile, a case was today filed against dera chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh by two Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, who charged him with hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikhs.

The dera today appealed to President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to mediate to solve their tangle with the Sikhs.

Dera's chief spokesman Aditya Insaan also urged the Punjab government to observe "Raj Dharma" in the wake of tomorrow's Punjab bandh.

The Punjab government should work honestly and protect all sections of the society, he said.

He said Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had expressed regret for all what happened and asserted that he never intended to show any disrespect to the 10th Sikh Guru by imitating any his actions or dress.