AMRITSAR: The Akali unity received a severe setback when the supporters of Badal and Bamala factions, exchanged blows, lath is and tossed turbans of each other at the Akali conference organized here last week on the occasion of annual fair being held in connection with the installation anniversary of the second Sikh Gur Angad Dev Ji.

Many persons were injured in the melee as the police, in a bid to restore peace, had to repeatedly intervene and resort to a Lathi charge. When all else failed, the police withdrew from the scene.

Hundreds of people who had come to listen to Akali leaders repeatedly rushed out, fearing the police Lathi charge, causing a virtual stampede.

The trouble started when supporters, owing allegiance to the Badal and Bamala factions of the Akali Dal, clashed over the control of the stage. Even some activists of the women’s Wing of the party and Bhai Manjit ‘Singh, who tried to pacify the warring Broups, 100, had to beat a hasty retreat.

A political conference is held by all parties at Khadoor Sahib every year, ‘on the occasion of the “Gurgaddi Diwas” of the second Sikh Guru, ‘Angad Dev, but this time, due to the assassination of the Chief Minister, Beant Singh, the Congress chose to slay away.

The trouble was between the Badal faction led by its senior leader, Ranjit Singh Brahampura and the Bamala faction led by Ranjit Singh Chajalwadi, MLA.

The public address system and the mike was damaged in the tussle as these groups did not allow Dr. Rattan Singh, MLA of Badal faction, to conduct the stage. The other group strongly claimed that it being the constituency of Chajalwadi he should conduct the proceedings.

Bharampura was pressurizing the ‘Akali MLA from Ajnala, Dr. Rattan Singh, to take charge of the mike while Chhajalwadi was imploring Balwinder Singh Khojikipur of the Bhai Manjit Singh faction to control the stage.

When the conference began, the “parkash” of Guru Granth Sahib had ‘been done on the stage and the stage was under the control of supporters of Chhajalwadi. Trouble started as soon as Bharampura arrived at the stage.

Ina matter of minutes, chappals and shoes started flying, turbans came off and people ran helter skelter.

Though Bharampura managed to save his turban, his shoes were taken away by the rivals even as he could not prevent his men from washing their hands off their shins, In the meantime some people got together and removed the Guru Granth Sahib from the scene.

Even Bhai Manjit Singh, who tried to pacify, was booed away and fearing the wrath of the crowd he withdrew himself from the scene. By then Bamala and Kuldip Singh Wadala also arrived on the scene and tried to pacify those present but gave up sensing the mood of the warring groups.

Wadala, Bamala and Bhai Manjit Singh later said the happenings of today were unfortunate and should not be repeated. They said though unity had been achieved at the top level, it was still to be done at the workers level.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 22, 1995