LUDHIANA: Akali Dal’s Lok Dal MP Rajdev Singh Barnala has formed his own Akali Dal which he calls Akali Dal Panthic. He announced that Simranjit Singh Mann had been expelled from the primary membership of the party ‘on account of his anti-party and anti panthic activities.
Rajdev Singh held his conference at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran at Ludhiana. No important leaders participated. Rajdev Singh said his was the only real Akali Dal and it would strive to carry out the ideals of late Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He lashed out at all other Akali factions and leaders, particularly Mann. Listing the charges against Mann he said Mann appointed the Sant’s detractors to high party posts. They included Atma Singh, Sucha Singh Chotepur, Talib Singh Sandhu, Sardul Singh and Shivraj Singh Brar.
He termed Talwandi as an enemy of Sikhs and criticised Mann for praising him. He observed that Chotepur and Sandhu were one part of the Barnala govt and were responsible for firing on Sikhs demanding the release of Jodhpur detenus.
The meeting held that Mann had insulted the Sikhs by calling Tota Singh a popular leader even though he had supported the police attack on the Akal Takht and Golden Temple.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 10, 1990
