Dera followers reconvert to Sikhism

Jyoti Kamal
CNN-IBN

Amritsar (Punjab): The Akali Dal seems to be softening its stand over the Dera deadlock. Hours after stressing on the May 27 deadline for the Dera to vacate, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) backed down.

Says SCPC President, Avtaar Singh Makkar, "I have never said that we will take law in our own hand. The final decision will be taken by the Akal Takht. As SGPC Chief, I have appealed to people to maintain peace. We don't believe in violence. We want a peaceful solution to the whole issue."

Meanwhile, some Dera supporters have started reconverting to Sikhism. At the Gurudwara Hari Krishan Shib in Bhatinda, 50 families formerly supporting the Dera reconverted on Wednesday.

Says a Dera man who converted to Sikhism, Nanak Singh, "Despite the fact that we were Dera supporters, we didn't like what Dera did."

However, despite what the converts claim, many feel that the fear of ostracism could also be a motive for conversion.

Says SGPC member, Davinder Kaur, "Now that these people are converting back to Sikhism, they won't be socially boycotted as per the Akal Takht's diktat."

The Bharatiya Janata Party, Akali Dal's ruling partner in the state, doesn't want the situation spiraling out of control. It's hoping that the government will find an amicable solution before the May 27 deadline.

Says State BJP President, Rajinder Bhandari, "The Akal Takht is supreme and Punjabis have faith in it, but we as a party are hopeful that a solution will come before the deadline.. We are taking all measures to ensure that there is a solution soon."

The SGPC has done a flip flop after saying that the Akal Takht diktat is above the law of the land. Now, Avtaar Siungh Makkar has said that they will not take the law into their hand. Though things seem to be getting better, it is these flip flops that brings Punjab politics to a boil.