I am deeply disturbed by reports of the tensions brewing in the Sikh community in Karnataka over the presence of Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Ram Rahim Singh in the state.

While India is a free country where every citizen has the right to travel freely and exercise his or her right to freedom of speech, expression and religious beliefs, that cannot be done at the cost of offending the religious sentiments of any community, as is clearly and categorically provided for in our Constitution.

Unfortunately, over the past several years, Karnataka has become the hub of extremism and a haven for terrorists, North East Militants and the hardliner proponents of Hindutva.

The peace loving and progressive people of Karnataka cannot afford to allow any more tensions in the name of sectarian and religious differences.

In view of the above, I urge the BJP Government in Karnataka to ensure that the tensions in other parts of the country are not allowed to be played out in Karnataka and the state is not perceived as a safe haven or refuge for people pitting brother against brother, offending the religious sensitivities and sensibilities of other communities and tearing apart our fragile secular fabric.

The Dera Chief should be politely but firmly told to leave the state forthwith and mend fences with the Sikh community in the larger interests of communal harmony and national unity. We cannot allow in Karnataka at any costs the repeat of the tensions that erupted in Punjab last year or in Mumbai last week.