CHANDIGARH, India: S, Parkash Singh Badal, President Akali Dal (B) and newly elected S.G.P.C. Chief S. Gurcharan Singh Tohra were arrested following Mr. Tohras victory in the S.G.P.C elections. Badals party literally routed the ruling Akali Dal candidates. Meanwhile, Mr. Sunjit Singh Barnala dismissed his two Cabinet colleagues, Basant Singh Khalsa and Nirmal Singh Khalon, for supporting Tohra in violation of the party directive. Reaching to their arrest, Mr. Badal said that they were being arrested because their party had inflicted a crushing defeat upon the ruling Akali Dal. He maintained that they had no links with violent elements and were opposed to violence,
Police have drawn up elaborate lists of politically active Sikhs. Already quite a few leaders of the United Akali Dal, A.I.S.S.F and Damdami Taksal have been arrested and search for others is continuing.
Punjab has been virtually placed under military rule. It has been done under the cover of assisting police and security forces. Orders have been issued to confiscate properties of all those who are suspected to be involved in Sikh political activity.
Hindu members of the Indian Parliament wanted the Home Minister, Buta Singh, to resign but withdrew the demand when he explained the measures introduced to control Punjab. Some members complained that Buta Singh had failed to identify the measures that he had promised earlier. There was demand for the removal of Barnala, Members wanted Raj Gandhi to hand over Punjabs administration to the army, but Rajiv Gandhi refused to oblige. He does not want to own the responsibility of exterminating Sikhs and he would like to use Barnala as a cushion to avoid embarrassment in the International forums.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 5, 1986
