PATIALA, India: Basant Singh Khalsa. Education Minister, Punjab and a staunch Tohra loyalist joined his mentor by demanding conscience voting in the election of Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee scheduled for today afternoon. In a letter to Akali Dal President and Chief Minister. Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala Mr Khalsa warned that necessary Steps would be taken if conscience ‘voting was not allowed. He sent a Copy of the letter to Parkash Singh Badal and re-iterated his support for Mr. Tohra. Mr. Khalsa later left for Amritsar apparently to canvass for Mr. Tohra. The text of the controversial letter released on the eve of the election said that this was for the first time since 1925 that it had degenerated into an ugly and mundane affair. Members were being kidnapped. Money was playing major role in the election. So much so that the letter said that some members have been linked with offers of sources of profit by the government. Ironically enough the latter had a word of praise for Mrs. Indira Gandhi. Even she had opted for a vote of conscience. The letter further said that he was account able to the Chief Minister as a MLLA and in Party matters too, he accepted Mr. Barnala as a Chief Minister. However in case of election any whip or act to any direction, he will vote according to his conscience adding that his letter as well as his actions were democratic in the spirit of a devout Sikh and a faithful worker of the Akali Dal.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 5, 1986
