WSN Service
JALANDHAR: Simranjit Singh Mann president of Akali Dal has refused to ask militants to give up arms. Talking to newsmen on the appeal of Virinder Verma Mann said when talks could be held with armed Mizos why Sikh militants were being asked to disarm.
Mann said Assembly elections would not be held in Punjab till the Center found a phable Sikh leader. Mann said Parkash Singh Badal could be a pliable leader.
Asked if his party would participate in the elections, Mann said a decision in this regard would be taken by the executive committee of the party. He alleged that the army had already been deployed in the garb of National Security Guards to rig the elections.
He said unity with the Akali Dal Badal was not possible as it was not effectively involved for the cause of Sikhs. During his last meeting with Badal he had asked him to fight for the rights of the Sikhs.
Mann urged Hindus not to disown Punjabi which was their mother tongue during the coming census; He assured the Hindus they faced no danger from the Sikhs who had never let them down in war or in peace.
Mann alleged that the vigilante groups of KPS Gill DGP was behind the murder of Maj Ghumman (retd) an executive member of the party who was gunned down in Jalandhar last week. He claimed that he himself faced a danger from this group.
Condemning the arrest of Manjit Singh president AISSF, Mann said his party did not take part in the bandh because his party was not taken into confidence before the call was given.
Asked when he would take oath as MP, he said he would not do so until the speaker allowed him to carry in to parliament his sword.
Mann warned that a Punjab and Kashmir like situation would develop in Tamil Nadu if the govt ‘went against the aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 6, 1990
