Bandi Chhor Divas peaceful

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 20

Much to the relief of the SGPC, the Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali) went off peacefully at the Golden Temple complex yesterday. The committee managed to keep “parallel” jathedars at bay.

Rival Sikh leaders had announced that Dhian Singh Mand, “acting jathedar”, would deliver the ceremonial public address on the occasion.

However, the police managed to detain Mand and his supporters from Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Pau Wind in Bhikhiwind, Tarn Taran. Other leaders Baljit Singh Daduwal and Amrik Singh Ajnala were detained a day before.

SSP Darshan Singh Mann said Mand was taken into preventive custody, but was released late in the evening.

Ample security arrangements were put in place at the Golden Temple complex, which was visited by a large number of devotees. Amid tight security, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh made public appearance in the evening to deliver “sandesh” from the Darshani Deodi as per the tradition.

He appealed to the Sikhs to end internal conflicts and follow the “maryada”. He expressed concern over sacrilege incidents and asked the government to solve the cases at the earliest.

He also appealed to the Sikhs to celebrate family occasions such as weddings and birthdays in a simple manner in gurdwaras.

Mand, in his message, launched a scathing attack on Giani Gurbachan Singh over the controversial move to pardon dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.