India sect apologises over advert

Many of the Sikh protesters were armed

A religious sect in the Indian state of Punjab has apologised after its leader was accused of blasphemy against Sikhs.

The leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) appeared in an advert dressed like Guru Gobind Singh, one of the Sikh religion's most revered figures.

The sect has now apologised to the Guru Gobind Singh directly.

The incident led to a general strike earlier in May, and clashes between Sikhs and members of the sect in which at least one person died.

A deadline set by Sikh leaders for DSS sites to be shut has passed with no reports of violence.

'Humanity's sake'

The sect office issued a statement on Sunday saying "our Guru says it's unimaginable for him to imitate Guru Gobind Singh".

"We have already expressed regret in this connection, but for humanity's sake we apologise to the true guardian of spirituality, the all-encompassing, the all-giving Guru Gobind Singh, so that peace returns to Punjab, Haryana and the country," the Indian Express newspaper quoted from the statement.

The sect claims it has 20 million members worldwide and says it is not a religion but a humanitarian organisation caring for its devotees.

Analysts say the conflict between the DSS and Sikhs has to be seen in the context of state elections held in Punjab in February.

Then the sect leader issued a public appeal for people to vote for the Congress party.

Religious sects have traditionally been subtle about their support for political parties - they have usually issued internal appeals asking their followers to vote for the political party of their choice.

Most Sikhs in Punjab support the state's governing party, Akali Dal.

Some analysts say Sikh leaders, angry at the direct intervention by the DSS in the elections, seized the opportunity to whip up popular sentiments of their community against the sect.

Although peace has prevailed in the state for the last decade or so, in the 1980s and the 1990s, Punjab was the site of a violent insurgency by Sikhs who desired an independent homeland.

In 1984 Indian security forces killed many Sikh militants after they seized the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sikh religion's most important site.

In revenge, Indira Gandhi, the then-prime minister, was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards.