Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday said that the Punjab Government would only recognize the decisions made by the mahants of Hindu religious deras and sadhu samaj regarding their successors. The Chief Minister made this announcement here at Harpal Tiwana auditorium during the Virat Sant Sammelan organized by the Sarv Sampradaya Sadhu Mandal Patiala and Bhekh Khat Darshan Sadhu Samaj Mahamandal Punjab.Accepting the demands put forward by the Sadhu Samaj on the occasion, Charanjit Singh Channi said that it is the tradition of Sant and Sadhu Samaj to choose their successor and the Government would not interfere in anyway in the matter. Further, the directions about clearing pending mutations of deras in the State would be given as per the wishes of the Sant Samaj.
Likewise, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would recognize the will made by the 'Sant' leaving for his heavenly abode regarding nominating their successor but in case of no such happening the decision of Bhekh Bhagwan would be given credence by the Government. The Chief Minister also offered Cabinet Rank to Mahant Atma Ram representing Sadhu Samaj in order to ensure prompt redressal of the problems of Sadhu Samaj.The Sant Samaj also accepted the request made by the Chief Minister for gracing his Morinda by paying a visit.The Cabinet Minister Brahm Mohindra on the occasion said that the State Government is fully committed to redress the grievances of the Deras, Sant as well as the Sadhu Samaj to allay the concerns of Mahant Atma Ram. He also divulged that despite being part of the governments since 1980, the amount of initiative and enterprise that has been witnessed in the last three months is unmatched.The Sammelan was also addressed by Mahant Atma Ram, and Mahant Bikramjit Singh.