Protest over Dera chief not being allowed to meet PM Modi

Jalandhar, February 23 

After yesterday's reports on Sant Niranjan Dass of Dera Sachkhand Ballan getting barred from entering Guru Ravi Dass Temple during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Varanasi, BSP leaders today held a protest on the Adampur-Bhogpur road and raise slogans against BJP leaders, including Union MoS Vijay Sampla.

BSP's Jalandhar zone incharge Master Ram Lubhaya said the Dalit community felt hurt at the act of the PM's security which did not let their dera chief enter his own Guru Ravidass Temple at Seer Govardhan there. The members burnt an effigy, condemned the incident and demanded an apology from the BJP leaders for the same. BSP's Sukhwinder Kotli too said the disrespect to the Sant would not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, Sant Nirmal Dass, chief of Dera Baba Jaura at Raipur Rasoolpur, and Sri Guru Ravi Dass Sadhu Sampradha Society, which manages nearly 300 deras for the Dalits in the region, too condemned the incident. "The incident in which disrespect was shown to Sant Niranjan Dass has come as a black spot for the Sadhu Samaj. The BJP leadership should have ensured that the dera chief was inside the premises as the PM was about to arrive. In any case, the PM's SPG should have been instructed to at least let the Sant in", he said. Notably, both Sant Nirmal Dass and Sant Niranjan Dass represent Dalit community but have shown divergent views including that on following the religious scripture. While Sant Nirmal Dass follows Guru Granth Sahib, Sant Niranjan Dass has been advocating the spread of Amritvani, the holy scripture of Ravidassia religion. But on this issue, Sant Nirmal Dass has come out in support of Sant Niranjan Dass.—TNS