Even as Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Thursday assured that he will appear before the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court tomorrow and appealed his followers to maintain peace, it’s going to be an uphill task for the law and order authorities in both Haryana and Punjab.

With close to five lakh of DSS followers estimated to reach Panchkula, by all indications security agencies in both the states may find it difficult to manage the situation if the verdict goes against the Dera chief.

More so because both Punjab and Haryana are having lakhs of followers who may resort to violence if the verdict goes against their sect leader.

To end the speculation if he would appear before the CBI court or not, in a message posted on his Facebook page, the DSS chief said he has always respected the law and will appear before court by abiding the same despite having “backache”. “We have deep faith in God. Everyone should maintain peace” he said in the post.

Even as there is no official word or statement urging Dera followers to reach Panchkula, over a lakh have already reached the city adjoining Chandigarh.

Close the five lakh are estimated to reach Panchkula by tomorrow despite the imposition of prohibitory orders for assembly of more than four persons.

The Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government which had sought and got electoral support from the DSS in 2014 Assembly elections is treading with caution.

The state government wants to prevent repeat of violent confrontation in 2014 in Hisar when followers of another sect head Sant Rampal, who had refused to obey arrest orders, was forced to come out of his ashram after six were killed in violent clashes between his followers and policemen.

As police action against Dera followers could spoil ruling BJP’s equation with the DSS which has huge influence over voters in several Haryana districts, the Khattar government wants to prevent any untoward incident in case the CBI court’s decision goes against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and his followers resort to violence.

Likewise, the DSS is having huge following in several districts of Punjab including Mansa, Muktsar and Bathinda. The estimated number of Dera followers in the state is close to 35 lakh.

What’s worrying for the both the governments is that some Dera followers have been quoted saying that they may do anything if the Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh held guilty in the sexual harassment case which they claim is fake.