Chandigarh, India, May 22, 2007 - Almost all establishments are reported to be closed in Punjab on Tuesday after the Akal Takht issued a call to all Sikhs of Punjab to observe bandh in the state to boycott the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) sect.  The streets looked deserted.

Thousands men of armed police force are posted all over to observe peace during the bandh.
 
The clashes began last week after the controversial leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, which combines spirituality with social work, dressed up like Guru Gobind Singh, the revered Sikh guru. But the sect leader, Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, denied anything wrong in his dress. He said to the effect that he wears a turban and has a long beard in the Sikh style and there is nothing wrong it.
 
The Sikh leaders felt their sentiments were injured and so demanded an apology from Shri Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, who simply expressed his regret but did not tender an apology as desired by the Akal Takht and therefrom the situation was aggravated.

Even the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has asked for an apology from the DSS leader but to no avail. The DSS leader does not seem to oblige the Sikh community by towing on their line.

In some towns, Sikhs gathered for protest marches but police quickly dispersed them. Authorities forbade meetings of more than five people on Tuesday to avert possible violence."

"Law and order would be maintained at all costs and no one would be allowed to resort to hooliganism or disturb peace," Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said.

The Chief Minister said no Sikh would be allowed to carry arms or brandish traditional swords during protests.

Lawyers in many cities decided to stay away from the courts.

The Dera sect, which has tens of thousands of followers, says it is a social organization and it believes in the oneness of God and it, therefore, does not adhere to a particular faith, although its leader wears a turban and has a long beard in the Sikh style and there is no insult of any revered guru.