Bhatinda — The Akali Dal president, Mr. Harchand Singh Longowal has said his party has no objection to the Anandpur Sahib resolution being referred to the Sarkaria Commission for review.
Talking to newsmen at Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo near here on Saturday, Mr. Longowal however claimed that Indira Gandhi at a meeting with the opposition parties and the Akali Dal on November 16, 1982 had agreed to the Anandpur Sahib resolution.
Condemning the shooting incident at Matewal village in Amritsar in which three persons were killed on Friday, Mr. Longowal said whenever the Akali Dal tried to create a congenial atmosphere to solve the Punjab problem, violence was organized by Congress (I) men to vitiate it.
Mr. Longowal said the Dal had postponed its action plan since the Government had accepted three of its demands and it wanted to give time to the Government to prove its good intentions.
He said since his party’s struggle was with the Centre and the Cong. (I) alone, the Dal’s rank and file had been directed to work for communal harmony and peace in the state. Mr. Longowal said, “We have no enmity with any other religion or community.”
The Akali Dal chief said his party had not yet decided on participating in the coming elections in the state. This issue, he said, would be discussed only after the election schedule had been announced.
Addressing a public meeting, Mr. Longowal said the proposed inquiry into riots should not be limited to Delhi violence only. It should also cover violent incidents at other places in the country, he said. The government should announce a time limit for submission of the report by the commission, he added.
Mr. Longowal said the Akali Dal would nominate a committee to prepare the party case for presentation before the commission.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 26, 1985
