Chandigarh: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and several Sikh organisations on Wednesday flayed the murderous assault on Sikh pracharak Bhai Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale.
SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said the attack was an attempt to divide the ‘Panth’. “Such incidents can cause unrest in the state,” said Makkar, calling upon the state government to arrest the guilty immediately.
Condemning the attack, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said: “The brazen attack on the preacher is aimed at snubbing his independent thoughts. The attack also shows complete failure of the intelligence wings of the police.”
Referring to the reports that alleged attackers had raised slogans in favour of Khalistan he said Bhai Ranjit Singh was neither anti-Khalistani nor enemy of the Panth, instead he commands good respect within the community. He said the cause of Khalistan had nothing to do with this shameful act.
United Akali Dal (UK) leaders Nirmal Sigh and Loveshinder Singh Dallewal said that the attack on Bhai Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale was result of deep rooted conspiracy and some independent agency must probe the incident to bring forth the truth.
Bhai Dhian Singh Mand and Bhai Baljit Singh Daduwal said that Sikh pracharaks were being targeted by anti-social elements.
Aam Aadmi Party leader advocate HS Phoolka, in a letter to the Akal Takht jathedar, said: “We must take this matter seriously. After the attackers are arrested, they should be brought to the Akal Takht and ex-communicated from the community — if they are Sikhs.”