Political parties on Friday strongly condemned Dera Sacha Sauda head Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for his 'act of incitement' that led to violence in Punjab and protests in other states and appealed for peace.

A marathon three-hour long all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal saw even the Opposition Congress promising to extend full support to the government in the 'hour of crisis' even though the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandakh Committee made it clear it will wield its sword against those insulting the Sikh community.

The Congress condemnation of the Dera head assumes significance as the party had received his support in the last assembly elections.

The incidents of violence that hit the state in the wake of the Dera head's alleged imitation of the Sikh Guru Gobind Singh has also created divisions in the ruling SAD-BJP alliance with the saffron party criticising the government's efforts to deal with the crisis.

The participants, in a resolution, said they 'shared with deep concern the pain felt by the Sikh community' and condemned 'the act of incitement.'

After the meeting, Badal read out a prepared text of the resolution but refused to reply to reporters' questions.      

Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said that the need of the hour was to defuse the crisis.

'We attended the meeting to boost efforts to maintain peace and tranquility,' Bhattal told PTI.

SGPC chief Avatar Singh Makkar said it was time to separate those preaching and popularising teachings of the Sikh Gurus and those who seek to gain publicity for themselves.