In Punjab, dera still controls properties
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, August 24
The dera continues to have control of its properties in the region as it did a year ago, though the state government had initiated an exercise to identify moveable and immovable assets in various districts.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered recovery of damages caused by rioters in the aftermath of the dera chief’s conviction from the Dera Sacha Sauda by attaching its properties.
The dera has a huge following in the Malwa region with Bathinda having one of the biggest centres of the sect at Salabatpura. In Bathinda, the worth of dera properties is estimated at over Rs 20 crore, of which Rs 10.5 crore is the cost of the Salabatpura dera alone. The dera has 112 properties in Bathinda district, of which 11 are Nam Charcha Ghars.
It was learnt that all properties were in the name of dera’s Green Welfare Force and not in Dera Sacha Sauda’s name.
The MSG apparel showroom located in the city, which was shut down following Ram Rahim’s conviction, is back in business under a different name.
In Muktsar, too, dera properties are in possession of its management committees. Police remain deployed there to avoid any untoward incident.
“At least two policemen have been deployed at each dera building in the district. Police in muftis too come during ‘naam charcha’, but they don’t interfere in our religious affairs,” says Surinderpal Singh, dera’s Muktsar block head. Notably, the deras were closed last year, but they gradually opened for followers.
The scenario is no different in Sangrur district, as all dera properties are being maintained by its followers.
Other assets
- Eight educational institutions
- 25 factories of seeds, fertilisers, FMCG products, etc.
- Multispecialty hospital
- Hotel with star facilities
- Cinema hall
- Cricket stadium that has hosted Ranji events
- Hockey stadium
- Indoor stadium
- Malls
- Petrol pumps
(With inputs from Parvesh Sharma in Sangrur, Archit Watts in Muktsar and Sukhmeet Bhasin in Bathinda)
