AMRITSAR: The five Head Priests have directed Surjit Singh Barnala to appear at Akal Takhat on December 5, 1988. He has also been directed to bring his resignation from the president ship of Akali Dal (L) and disband the party. This decision was taken by the head priests at the residence of Prof. Darshan Singh as he as indisposed and was unable to attend the meeting scheduled at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Alamgir, Ludhiana. According to Prof Darshan Singh, the priests had discussed the letter written by Barnala to the then Akal Takht Chief on July 5, 1988. The priests have felt that the wording of the letter was not in conformity with the dignity of the high office of Akal Takht. He was asked to send another letter. In a letter to Barnala the priests said that he has not sent his resignation from the post of president ship of his Dal along with the letter, they said that in view of the past directive, he has been asked to present himself at Akal Takht on December 5, at 11 a.m. along with the required documents. Mr. Barnala was ex-communicated from the Panth in February 1987 for having refused to abide by the Verdict of the Akal Takht Jathedar. The declaration of ex-communication was signed by Prof Darshan Singh who was then Akal Takht Chief. Further reports indicated that the Akali Dal (L) is in a dilemma to accept or reject the directive of the high priests. Mr. Barnala declined to comment on the directive. He said that he will seek the guidance from the working committee of the Akali Dal (L). But the party sources indicated that there was no question of dissolving the democratically elected Akali Dal.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 18, 1988
