:dateline:President of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab S. Sukhbir Singh Badal held a meeting of SGPC members at his official residence in Chandigarh on October 10 to get acquainted with the aftermath of Jathedars� move of pardoning Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
SGPC members from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Chandigarh were called for this meeting and S. Sukhbir Singh Badal personally counselled the SGPC members in groups of two or three adjoining districts.
Although Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has not disclosed the details of meeting, �Sikh24� has learnt from reliable sources that most of the SGPC members opined in the meeting that Gurmeet Ram Rahim should have appeared personally before Sri Akal Takhat Sahib seeking pardon. �Pardoning a guilty person of blasphemous behaviour without personal appearance is against customs of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib� opined most SGPC members.
Some SGPC members have informed us that Sukhbir Badal was continuously forcing them to agree with his opinion that a non-Sikh couldn�t be pressurized to appear before Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and Sikh Panth should exhibit open heartedness by exonerating Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
The meeting lasted for many hours and journalists were strictly prohibited from entering Sukhbir Badal�s residence. ���
According to reliable sources, S. Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and S. Karnail Singh Panjoli were also called for the meeting but their presence couldn�t be confirmed.
Some SGPC members have also favoured the Jathedars� move of pardoning Sirsa Cult Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim excusing of communal harmony across state. It is notable that such SGPC members including President Avtar Singh Makkar are facing sharp criticism from the�Sikh Panth.
On the other hand, Spokesperson of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema denied accepting that the meeting was held about the Jathedars� move of pardoning Gurmeet Ram Rahim. He said that meeting was held to discuss ways to promote the preaching of Sikhism. �
