PATIALA: Except one jathedar all the remaining 70 senior leaders of the Akali Dal (Badal) including Patiala district Working committee members at a meeting here on May 16 expressed their loyalty to the newly formed Akali Dal after severing their connection with the rival Badal dal The meeting was chaired by the Shiroman Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Prem Singh Chandumajra a senior youth leader conducted proceedings.

While addressing the gathering at Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Tohra said Gurcharan Singh Deon a circle Jathedar who did not turn Up for the meeting continue to be in the Badal Akali Dal He further announced that on Sunday at Fatehgarh Sahib barring two jathedars from the Fatehgarh Sahib district all other had expressed loyally with the new Akali Dal Amritsar?

Tohra has again appealed to Parkash Singh Badal to join new Akali Dal But in the same breath Tohra asked its party workers to tell the villagers to boycott leader loyal to Badal Dal because they have timed their back on the Akal Takht.

It told his party workers that whosoever had tried to denigrate the Akal Takht had repented He cited the example the former Home Minister Buta Singh who after a gap of over 10 year Surrendered before the Akal Takht seeking forgiveness for his sins. The senior Akali Dal Ieaders Rachpal Singh from Delhi also’ surrendered before the Akal Takht. Explaining his position Tohra said he was not interested in any office Badal became victim of anti-Sikh forces which had been propagating that he (Tohra) was using the Akal Takht to become president of the Akali Dal Tohra said inspite of the damage Badal dal had caused to the prestige of the Akal Takht he (Tohra) will still £0 to Badal as a humble Sikh to request him to join the new Akali Dal. Had Badal joined the new Akali Dal said Tohra he might have been made the president of the new organization.

As a test of strength the new Akali Dal has decided to hold its first meeting at Sunam on May 21 The party Ieaders were assigned duties for making arrangements for the conference for make it a big show.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 20, 1994