May 20, 2007 - Irrespective of the sectarian clashes which rocked Punjab last week, one thing is alarming, Deras have raised an extraordinary popularity in their favor, which may cause great concern to the protestors. 

The photograph of  Dera Sacha Sauda leader Baba Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim which is published in leading newspapers and also shown on TV channels particularly the one published last Sunday has raised deep concern since it looks to have elevated the popularity of the Dera leader very high as per the public fear.

The photograph is shown dressed in the attire of Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, while baptizing his followers. As a result, the Sikhs across Punjab rose to defend their honor. It began with Bathinda on Tuesday and quickly fanned out across the state and it reached Birmingham.

As a hapless Akali government watched, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandak Committee stood eyeball-to-eyeball with the Dera Sacha Sauda.

On the streets followers of both sides gathered in the thousands.

Sectarian tension had once again brought Punjab to a flashpoint as the SGPC gave the Parkash Singh Badal government an ultimatum, ordering it to take action against the Dera, forcing its leader to publicly apologize or else face the consequences.

Cornered by the Akal Takht, the backbone of its Sikh vote bank and criticized by its ally, the BJP, the Akali government gave in and opened back channel talks between the Dera and the SGPC.

Full Story: 

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070012682