PATIALA: The Akali Dal (Mann) president, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, has categorically ruled out the possibility of his or his party members joining the Union Cabinet,

Addressing a Press conference here Nov 22, he said that he would not join any Cabinet until the Punjab problem was solved. “I will not sacrifice the interests of the Khalsa Panth for the sake of any selfish interests.” Demanding “decolonisation, demilitarisation and democratisation” of Punjab, he said the repressive state machinery should be dismantled. The Sikhs had not seen the “glow of freedom”. When pointed out that the new Prime Minister, Mr Chandra Shekhar, had been very sympathetic towards the Akali demands and had condemned the storming of the Golden Temple complex in strongest terms and he might solve the lingering Punjab problem, Mr Mann said that Mr Shekhar should show some concrete results by taking some bold initiative. “We have been listening to the assurances and promises since 1947”.

Condemning the sacrilege of two Holy Scriptures in Jalandhar and one in Delhi, he alleged that the Indian Lions, the Indian National Army, the Jagat Narain Squad and the General Vaidya Squad were behind these incidents. These outfits were being run by the DGP, MRK PS. Gill, the DIG (CRPF), MR SS. Virk, and the Jalandhar SSP Mr Suresh Arora.

Claiming that these four outfits were actually four games of one organisation, he alleged that Mr Vijay Chopra, editor of the Hind Samachar group, had been paying Rs 2,000 a month to each member of this outfit out of the Shaheed Pariwar funds. Mr Mann said that in his resignation letter sent to the Speaker, Lok Sabha, he had brought this matter to the latter’s notice.

Challenging the statement of the Governor, Mr Virendra Verma, that Pakistani elements were responsible for these incidents of sacrileges, Mr Mann said that then why did the government not attack Pakistan. Pointing out that Mr Verma and Mr K.P.S. Gill had no right to criticise Pakistan as only the Central Government could comment on other countries’ affairs, he said that Mr Chandra Shekhar should pull up these two persons if he wanted to improve relations with Pakistan.

Mr Man ridiculed the BJP leadership for seeking a judicial probe into the police firing on “kar sevaks” at Ayodhya as “it has no faith in judiciary”. If a judicial probe could be ordered into the police firing on “kar sevaks”, he said, that the government should also order a judicial probe into Operation Bluestar and Operation Woodrose for “hurting” the sentiments of the Sikhs.

He demanded the creation of a security belt stretching 100 meters around the Ram Janam Bhoomi Babri Masjid complex and deployment of the Army there and warned that in case the Babri Masjid ‘was demolished, India’s relations with the Islamic countries would be spoiled.

Asked to comment on the postponement of municipal elections in Punjab, Mr Mann said that his utterances had been proved “true” that the government would not hold any election in Punjab since “it don’t trust Sikhs”.

Mr Mann warned the Centre against the promulgation of President’s rule in Tamil Nadu saying that “as per Article 355 of our constitution, the Union will safeguard all states against any external aggression and internal disturbance”. The Centre is duty bound to extend all assistance to the Tamil Nadu government to curb disturbances, if any. He assured the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr Karunanidhi that his party would extend all cooperation against the Centre’s “indifferent” attitude towards his government.

Addressing a congregation at Dewan Hall in Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib Complex, he said that the Khalsa Panth would continue its struggle to break the shackles of slavery.

Mr Charanjit Singh Walia, a former M.P., Mr Baldey Singh Lang, district president of the party unit, and Mr Satnam Singh, member, SGPC, also spoke. Bhai Gurmeet Singh, head granthi of the gurdwara, presented him a “siropa” (rob of honour) on this occasion.

Article extracted from this publication >> December 14, 1990