Deadlock persists on Dera row
The pace negotiations between the Dera Sacha Sauda and the Sikh clergy hit a roadblock evening after hectic parleys initially raised hopes of a breakthrough, report Navneet Sharma & Hitender Rao.
The pace negotiations between the Dera Sacha Sauda and the Sikh clergy hit a roadblock on Thursday evening after hectic parleys initially raised hopes of a breakthrough.
Distancing itself from the mediation initiated by the Sarv Dharam Samnwaya Samiti headed by social activist Swami Agnivesh, the Dera said they were still meeting the Sadh Sangat (followers), but had sent no draft proposal for settlement.
“Swami Agnivesh was not the channel of negotiations,'' Dera chief spokesperson, Dr Aditya Arora said.
Throughout the day there was talk of exchange of drafts between the two sides. At one stage, things looked optimistic with even Dera followers expressing hope of an early settlement to the 10-day old controversy.
Swami Agnivesh said that he had indeed received a draft from the Dera management. “There were talks and the matter is still under consideration. We will resume the dialogue on Friday preferably in Amritsar,” he told the Hindustan Times over phone.
He said the Samiti was mediating between the two sides to find a mutually agreeable solution to end the crisis. “The reservation is primarily over the usage of three-four words in the pact,” he said. Earlier in the day, he had expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of the peace talks. “ The Dera was to give the draft on Wednesday but it kept delaying. But I am still hopeful something positive will come out soon,” he had said.
navneetsharma@hindustantimes.com, hitenderrao@hindustantimes.com