CHANDIGARH: The Akali Dal chief Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann is understood to have made up his mind to take oatch as member of the Lok Sabha.
Informed sources indicated here today that Mr. Mann was expected to go to Delhi on the Opening day of the Budget session of Parliament on March 12 to take the oath. In response to a communication, Mr. Mann has reportedly informed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that he would bring along the requisite Papers.
Mr. Mann, who was elected to the Lok Sabha more than three months ago, had not so far taken oath as a member of the House following a controversy over the issue of taking a three foot long kirpan into the House. Four of the six members of the Akali Dal (M) including Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bulara, Mr. Rajdev Singh, Baba Sucha Singh and the late Mr. Jagdev Singh Khudian took the oath without insisting on carrying the kirtan into the House. Four of the six members of the Akali Dal (M) including Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bulara, Mr. Rajdev Singh, Baba Sucha Singh and the late Mr. Jagdev Singh Khudian took the oath without insisting on carrying the kirpan into the House. Mr. Dhian Singh Mand and Mrs. Bimal Kaur however did not take the oath when Mr. Mand was prevented by the watch and ward staff of Parliament from entering the House along with his kirpan. Mr. Mann too has been insisting ever since on carrying the Kirpan into the House which he asserts is his constitutional right.
The issue of Mr. Mann taking oath as an MP came up briefly at a meeting of the working committee of the party held here on Thursday. Several members were of the view that Mr. Mann should take the oatch without insisting on the kirpan issue. This was objected to by Major Jagjit Singh, leading to heated exchanges between the Major and Mr. Charanjit Singh Walia, former MP. Each accused the other of being a government and RAW agent.
It is not yet clear how the issue of carrying kirpan into the House would be resolved. According to party sources, Mr. Mann may be administered the oath in an annexe of parliament. Another possibility was to allow only Mr. Mann in his capacity as leader of the Akali Dal (M) Parliamentary Party to carry the kirpan into the House.
Meanwhile Mr. Mann who was admitted to the local General Hospital on Tuesday for treatment of injuries suffered by him in the police lathi charge at Bathinda was discharged to-~ day. He has been advised complete rest by the doctors for a week. During his stay in hospital, the Prime Minister VP Singh reportedly enquired about his health and sent him a bouquet of roses.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 9, 1990
