The importance of Dera Sacha Sauda

NEW DELHI - The controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect is always in the news whenever there is an election in Punjab. Given the sect’s vast following in several areas of the state, particularly in south Punjab, political parties eye the sect with a lot of interest.

In recent years though, the sect and its controversial chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh have drifted towards the Congress. The ruling Akali Dal, whose leaders like Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and others would land up to keep the sect in good honour, has upset the sect chief by getting cases registered against him in the controversy over his attiring himself like the 10th Sikh guru, Gobind Singh.

In the present scenario, the sect would not support the Akalis at all even though the party would need its help.