The scene within: Premis gather at Sirsa Dera in large numbers

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Sirsa, August 23

As one inches close to the Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa from the Bajekan village roadside, devotees can be seen sitting in single or in groups of two or three along the road at some distance. Even in the Dera area, volunteers can be seen sitting on the boundary wall, on the roadside or even standing under the sun in the hot and humid climate.

Some volunteers sitting at the entry gate note down the registration numbers of incoming vehicles. Every incoming vehicle or person is scanned thoroughly by the probing eyes of Dera volunteers. “We are here for sewa (service),” says a volunteer when The Tribune asked him why so many people are sitting along the route.

Asked since when they have been performing sewa and till what date will this continue, he said they were performing these duties in shifts since August 20 and would continue till August 25. “We have been assigned sewa and we are performing it,” he adds.

Later, a Dera spokesperson offers an excuse that they have been assigned duties to ensure that anti-social elements do not take advantage of the situation. As one reaches the entry gate of the main Dera and its media wing, volunteers thoroughly check the vehicle. In contrast, cars can be seen crossing police check posts unchecked.

In the Dera, some volunteers are seen monitoring 24 TV screens showing different news channels. “We keep recording whatever is being telecast about the Dera or the court case,” says a volunteer.

Three young girls wearing sports suits are seen moving towards the Dera stadium (boys and girls from Dera Sacha Sauda have earned a name at the national and international levels in several sporting activities).

Over 30,000 people are sitting under a huge pandal built on over 20 acres where the Dera chief normally delivers his sermon. Several others are seen roaming around in the 800 acres sprawling Dera, sitting in restaurants and eateries, shopping in malls, at a multi-specialty hospital or a cinema hall where Ram Rahim Singh starrer film “Jattu Engineer” is being shown.

Though Ram Rahim Singh has not held his daily Majlis (congregation) for the past two days, the number of followers thronging the Dera is increasing by the day. “I am Heera Singh from Rajeana village of Bathinda district,” says a man to disclose his identity. He came to the Dera five days ago and was not willing to return.

“Devotees are no more under our control. Ever since the governments in Haryana and Punjab started creating a hype about the CBI court verdict, they are gathering in the Dera and exhibiting belligerence despite our constant appeals to them for Simran (chanting hymns),” claims the Dera spokesperson.