Bathinda, Punjab (February 27, 2014): In a recent media interaction Dr. Sumail Singh Sidhu, convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s election campaign in Punjab claimed that his party has support of Dera Sacha Sauda (Sirsa) followers in Punjab.
Sumail Sidhu, a staunch leftist protagonist claimed that AAP has broad-based support from all sections of the society including Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Suda followers.
It is notable that the Sirsa based dera remains a controversial entity whose head Gurmeet Ram Raheem is facing multiple criminal charges in CBI courts including those of abduction, murder, rape and sexual exploitation of dera’s Sadhvis.
Moreover, the dera has been at the horns of controversies since 2007 when it’s head was charged with blasphemy for attempting to personify himself as tenth Sikh Guru, as personification of Sikh gurus is strictly prohibited in Sikh religion.
Political patronage of the dera is also a widely know fact and general impression is that it was because of political patronage that accused dera followers escaped punishment/ conviction in Kamaljeet Singh Sunam and Harmandar Singh Dabwali’s murder cases.
In this scenario the statement of Dr. Sumail Sidhu could adversely affect the response of common Sikhs, especially in Malva region of Punjab, towards the Aam Aadmi Party.