Amritpal Singh has requested Akal Takht to convene the “Sarbat Khalsa” gathering. (File)
New Delhi:
Punjab police has cancelled the leaves of all cops within the state until April 14 after radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh sought a gathering of the Sikhs later this month, stated sources.
Amritpal, who has been evading arrest since his supporters overran a police station over the arrest of considered one of his aides, has requested the chiefs of the highest Sikh physique, Akal Takht, to convene the “Sarbat Khalsa” gathering in Punjab’s Bathinda on the event of Baisakhi on April 14.
Till then, the leaves of all gazetted and non-gazetted officers have been cancelled, Punjab Director Normal of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated in a message to the officers, based on sources. All beforehand sanctioned leaves stand cancelled and the heads have been requested to not sanction any recent go away until April 14.
The separatist’s enchantment for the congregation got here in two video messages that surfaced final month. He additionally requested the jathedars (chiefs of Akal Takht) to take out a spiritual procession from the Akal Takht in Amritsar to Damdama Sahib in Bathinda forward of the gathering on Baisakhi.
Solely the Akal Takht chief can determine whether or not to name such a congregation after consulting with Sikh students and intellectuals, high gurdwara physique Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) stated following Amritpal’s request.
“It’s the private want of Amritpal Singh. It’s the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht jathedar to name or not name a ‘Sarbat Khalsa’. The jathedar would see what must be finished below the prevailing circumstances,” SGPC common secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal advised information company PTI.
‘Sarbat Khalsa’ congregations had been referred to as solely on two different events – in 2015 and 1986. The final one was held on February 16, 1986.