Amritsar — The Akali Dal will observe June 6 as “Black Day’ in Punjab to mark the first anniversary of ‘‘Operation Blue Star’’ in the Golden Temple last year.

The Akali Dal ad hoc committee convener, Mr. Surgan Singh Thekedar, gave an indication to this effect while briefing newsmen at the end of a two-day meeting of Akali leaders here on Wednesday.

He said “‘protest assemblies’”” would be held at all gurdwaras in the state on that day.

Mr. Thekedar refused to divulge details of the proposed action plan saying that he was collecting the party leader’s views which would be considered before taking any decision at the coming Anandpur Sahib meeting.

Mr. Thekedar said the two-day session of Akali leaders would discuss threadbare ‘“‘all the aspects of problems faced by Sikhs.”

Wednesday’s meeting was attended by 40 Akali leaders, including 17 out of 34 sitting legislators and 23 former MLAs and MP’s.

Prominent among those who were present were Mr. Prakash Singh Majitha, Mr. Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Mr. Mohinder Singh sayyanwala, Mr. Dalbir Singh, former Punjab minister, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and the SGPC acting president, Mr. Prem Singh Lalpura.

Former Punjab ministers, Mr. Jiwan Singh Umranangal, Mr. Balwant Singh and Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhundal and former MP, Dr. Rajinder Kaur, were conspicuous by their absence.

The meeting reiterated the Akali demand for a judicial inquiry into the violence sparked off by the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

The meeting condemned the refusal of the Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, to hold an inquiry into the riots, and alleged that his party members were responsible for the violence. It warned Mr. Gandhi’s refusal could prove ‘‘fatal for the unity and integrity for the country.”

The meeting also sharply reacted to Mr. Gandhi’s charges that the Akalis were handinglove with separatists and extremists, describing the allegation as a ‘false propaganda against the Akalis which is aimed at exploiting the popular sentiments of countrymen for political ends.”

The meeting adopted a resolution which declared that the history of the Akali Dal showed the party has always believed in peaceful struggle and nonviolence.

“Any person who believes in the philosophy of Sikhism which teaches the welfare of one and all can never be extremist and separatist,”’ it said.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 15, 1985