Told Khalistan Gurmata irrevocable

LONDON: Mr. Ram Jethmalani MP met a seven member delegation from the Council of Khalistan here on February 3. The delegates were Mr. Sarvan Singh Babake, Mr., Manmohan Singh, Mr. Charan Singh Panchi, Mr. Avtar Sigh, Mr. Amrik Singh Sahota, Mr. Iqbal Singh and, Mr. Ajit Singh Khera.

Mr. Jethmalani said that he was there with the knowledge of the Government of India to talk to the Council of Khalistan and he requested all Sikhs to support the initiative of the Central Govt and in particular to back Simranjit Se Mann to find a solution to the Punjab conflict within the Constitution of India.

The delegation put forward its view by outlining to Mr. Ram Jethmalani that as far as their program is concerned they were bound by the collective decision taken by the Sikh nation at the Sarbat Khalsa Convention held under the authority of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib January 26 1986. At this Sarbat Khalsa at Sri Akal Takht Sahib the Sikh nation resolved to establish a sovereign State of Khalistan in exercise of the Sikh nation’s social and political right of self-determination enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations. At this Convention on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations. At this Convention a five member Panthic Committee was elected to implement this mandate of the Sikh people. It was explained to Mr. Jethmalani that no Sikh individual, political party or any other organization or institution had the authority to revoke this Gurmata of the Sikh nation, All those who attempt to oppose this Gurmata or work against this Gurmata would be traitors to the Sikh people.

The meeting ended on a very cordial and friendly note and the delegates of the Council of Khalistan wished Mr. Jethmalani every success in his initiative to bring peace to the Punjab.

SACRAMENTO: Sikh leaders in the US were by and large dismayed at Mr. Jethmalani’s brief. The reaction of most when contacted by WSN was that “he had not brought much to offer.” Dr. GS. Dhillon, WSO president, said Jethmalani should talk to the freedom fighters in Punjab. The Sarbat Khalsa decision had to be acceded to, he added. He urged Sikhs to desist from private meetings with Jethmalani as these were not only pointless, they were counter-productive in that they may alienate these groups from the rest of us.

Mr. Jethmalani is visiting US and Canada this month.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 9, 1990