By IANS
Amritsar : The Akal Takht, highest temporal seat of Sikhism, Wednesday kept in abeyance its decision on the second apology from Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh to the Sikh community for hurting their sentiments even as it maintained its tough stance.
The Sikh high priests indicated clearly that the second "apology" was not adequate and was not acceptable.
The Dera chief had last week sent a sealed letter to Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar.
After a marathon six-hour meeting here, the Sikh high priests said the godman's second communication was not acceptable as it was "just another press note" (that is, meant for the media) and not addressed to them or the Sikh community.
They said that Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh had neither sought an apology from the Sikhs nor shown any remorse over his action – attiring himself in the manner of 10th Sikh guru Gobing Singh.
"The Dera chief failed to give an undertaking that he would not repeat his action again," Akal Takht Jathedar (head priest) Joginder Singh Vedanti said.
They said that a decision on the future course of action against him will be taken later in consultation with Sikh leadership.
The Dera head's earlier apology, sent in the last week of May and apologizing to the Sikh gurus for his "unintentional act", was rejected by the Sikh clergy and Akal Takht last month.
The 'non-acceptance' of this apology, seen as a hardening of the Sikh religious leadership's stance against the godman, is likely to complicate matters for the Akali Dal government in Punjab led by Parkash Singh Badal.
A Bathinda court has already issued non-bailable warrants against Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh in a case against him for hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs. The Punjab police now need permission of the Badal government to arrest the sect chief from his headquarters near Sirsa town of neighbouring Haryana.
The rejection of the second apology came as Sikh high priests from five temporal seats of the religion met here to discuss it and resolve the controversy between the clergy and the sect leader.
The meeting was considered crucial to defuse tension between Sikhs and the Dera chief after he upset Sikh sentiments by portraying himself like the 10th Sikh guru.
The Sikh religious leadership was under pressure from various quarters, including the state government, to resolve the tiff.
The Akal Takht had earlier called for a complete boycott of the Dera chief and his sect in Punjab. It also sought complete closure of all sect activities and campuses in the state.
The controversy had led to violence across Punjab for over a week in May.