Radical Sikh outfits Dal Khalsa and Panch Pardhani today expressed displeasure over the pardoning of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by Akal Takht, saying the decision was in violation of the traditions.
The outfits have also decided to gather at Akal Takht on September 29 to register their protest against the move.
"It's ironic that the norms, traditions and sovereignty of the Akal Takht have been undermined, compromised and destroyed by those who are mandated to safeguard it," claimed leaders of both the groups -- Kanwar Pal Singh and Harpal Singh Cheema.
They asked how Dera head could be pardoned without appearing at the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh religion, in person.
"The purported letter of apology is meant only to 'hoodwink' the Sikhs and make way for an understanding of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) with the Sirsa based dera for votes in the forthcoming elections," they alleged.
Seeking to put behind a bitter row, Akal Takht had on September 24 said it has pardoned Gurmeet Ram Rahim following a letter of apology from him.
The Dera Sacha Sauda chief was in 2007 accused by the Sikh clergy of attiring himself as the tenth Sikh Guru during a religious congregation of the sect. Violent clashes had broken out between Dera followers and Sikhs in parts of Punjab at the time.
