CHANDIGARH: SGPC president, Mr. G.S, Tohra on Friday asked the National Front Government to issue a white paper on secret links, if any, of Akali leaders with the previous regime and its intelligence agencies.
Mr. Tohra, who was reacting to the charge of the Akali Dal (Mann) president, Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann, that he (Mr. Tohra) along with the former Chief Minister, Mr. Parkas Singh Badal and the late Sant Harchand Singh Longowal had invited, in writing the Army attack on the Akal Takht in 1984, said it was expected of the new government to settle the controversy as it must have access to record of the secret contracts
The SGPC president, who was talking to newsmen here, Said that contrary to Mr. Mann’s charge, he had written a letter to the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi on June 2, 1984, protesting against the repression of the Para-military forces inside the Golden Temple complex and telling her that such an attack had never taken place after the days of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
The letter, copies of which were circulated to newsmen, had warned Mrs. Gandhi that if “this fire (at the Golden Temple) is not contained; it would engulf the entire country”.
Mr. Tohhra said if it was proved that he had written any letter, as was alleged by Mr. Mann, “I will retire from panthic politics”. If there was any such letter, it could be made known by the present Government.
The SGPC president regretted that the new government had not made required changes in the civil and police set-up and officers who were named for unleashing repression still continued at their posts. Whatever changes were made “are meaningless, in fact, some good officers have been shifted to inferior posts while the controversial ones have got better ‘ones”’.
Calling for administrative changes at all levels; Mr. Tohra opposed extension in service of senior officers saying that suitable replacements should be found from among the 195 IAS. Officers of state cadre. He resented the third extension given to the managing director of the Pepsi road Transport Corporation.
He also castigated the Education Department which, not to speak of creating new posts of teachers had failed to fill the existing vacancies. He alleged that posts were being offered to favorites through special constituted selection committees. This policy would add to the frustration among the youth.
Referring to the issue of kirpans’ Mr. Tohra said that it was a symbol of Sikh maryada, but it had to be worn in a ‘gatra’ to be slung across the shoulder.
“A three-foot sword carried in the hand became a weapon. Why does not Mr. Mann wear his sword in a ‘gatra’ instead of carrying it in his hands?” he said adding that the sword was not an issue in the election and four of the Akali Dal (Mann) MPs had taken their oath without carrying swords.
He said Mr. Mann should not stay away from the Lok Sabha on the pretext of the sword. The House had its own rules. ‘I will be in the forefront of an agitation against any decision preventing the Sikhs from wearing a ‘kirpan’ in a gatra. No one prevented me from wearing it when I was MP”. But the carrying of a sword in the House was not mandatory. Mr. Mann and other MPs of his party should attend the Lok Sabha and raise the problems of Punjab in the House. After all, the people had given them a mandate.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 9, 1990
