Ensure safety of deras, BJP tells CM
Party gen secy writes to Badal, seeks action against accused in Ferozepur clash
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
The BJP today asked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to ensure that the constitutional right of the residents to follow or practice any religion or faith was safeguarded as followers of different deras were living in fear following the recent clash in Ferozepur.
Beginning a new chapter of conflict with the Akalis, who along with the SGPC have been traditionally against the mushrooming of deras, Tarun Chugh, national general secretary of the BJP, today shot off a letter to the Chief Minister urging him to direct DGP Sumedh Saini to take action against those attacking dera followers.
SAD spokesman and Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema said the Chief Minister would respond to the letter in an apt manner. "The government has never played a partisan role in any law and order problem. That is why there is no communal tension in the state. Badal will respond aptly, if he wants to. But no one will be allowed to disturb the peace and tranquility in the state," he said.
Chugh called the recent clash between followers of Dera Sacha Sauda and Sikh groups in Ferozepur disturbing. In his letter to the CM, he said: "We are living in a free country and followers of every dera or sect have the liberty to hold peaceful religious functions. But it has been seen that some radical elements are resorting to violence to stress their point of view. Such attacks on people who propose to gather for a religious programme need to be condemned in the strongest possible words."
He said in the state, hundreds of deras, including Dera Sacha Sauda and Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, had followers at almost all places and such deras had been under constant threat. He signed off the letter hoping the CM would let the residents know that there was absolute freedom for everyone to worship according to their belief.
The BJP had reportedly got support from most deras, including the controversial Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, in the recently concluded Assembly elections in Haryana. The party has never earlier openly shown concern for a dera or its followers in Punjab although RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and senior BJP leader LK Advani have recently met heads of several deras.
Political analysts have been predicting a sharp divide in the state with followers of different deras aligning with the BJP while the hardliners backing Akalis, if the latter pursue the "panthic" agenda.
Change in stance.
 The BJP has never earlier openly shown concern for a dera in Punjab
 RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and senior BJP leader LK Advani have recently met heads of several deras
 The party has also reportedly got support from most deras in the Haryana Assembly poll