PATIALA, India: The Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala has blamed the members of the Unified Akali Dal for using the name of Akal Takht and religion for achieving their political aims. After laying the foundation stone of Rs. 1.62 crores high level bridge to be constructed over Ghaggar River, Barnala told the public meeting that when these disgruntled leaders found the masses not sticking to them they brought the name of religion and got the Hukamnama issued ex-com- municating him. The Akal Takht has been ridiculed, he said. The Chief Minister said that the decision of Akal Takht had been disputed by the Sikh Convention at Longowal. I am as true a Sikh as any other Sikh, he said:
Lashing out at the militants, Mr. Barnala said that the sacred Golden Temple Complex has been tuned into arsenal’ by those who call themselves as true Sikhs.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 10, 1987
