Sikh hardliners regrouping under Giani Dhian Singh Mand before LS polls

AMRITSAR: Akal Takht's acting parallel jathedar and Lok Sabha's former member Giani Dhian Singh Mand is on a Punjab tour to build a pressure group of hardliners before the parliamentary elections to back those candidates and parties that will agree to speak for the release of Sikh prisoners, investigation of sacrilege cases, and exemplary punishment to the culprits.

Mand on Friday said his group will hold meetings across the state make the public aware of its work for their Sikh issues. He claimed that: "We have held three meetings, so far - in Moga, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana - and received an overwhelming response from the sangat." Mand had contested the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat in 1989 for the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar).