AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—In addition to arrests made against legitimately chosen Sikh leaders (jathedars) two days ago, all organisers of Sarbat Khalsa 2015 have now been charged with Sedition.

Bhai Simranjit Singh Mann,Bhai Mohkam Singh, Acting Jathedar Dhian Singh Mand, Jathedar Amrik Singh Ajnala and Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal, have all courted arrest.

In addition, Bhai Harinder Singh of the Sikhri group (Sikh Research Institute), a resident of the USA, has been charged under 124 A, 153 (A) and 66/6, along with 23 others.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal held a meeting with police officers during his Amritsar visit today, which is likely to have triggered the cases to be registered.

DSP (Attari) Gurmeet Cheema said the sedition charges were applied due to Khalistan slogans being raised at the event. He acknowledges that the organizers avoided making these demands but said that the charge has still been applied.

Jagtar Singh Hawara was announced as the interim Jathedar of the Akal Takht towards the end of the event, after which some of the crowds raised Khalistan slogans. Other speeches which may have allegedly remotely incited violence were picked up on and cited as another reason for the arrests.

Aside from a few speakers, most of the speeches at the Sarbat Khalsa were largely focused on criticizing Parkash Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal.