CHANDIGARH: A significant feature of the release of three important Akali leaders last week was their failure to attract any noticeable public response. These leaders Parkash Singh Badal, Simranjit Singh Mann and Gurcharan Singh Tohra were set free after about two months of captivity. They were arrested anti-terrorist law for their pro boycott campaign,
When Mann and Tohra came out of Nidampur jail and Badal from Katori rest house jail, not many commoners were present to welcome them. All three of them were greeted by a few dozen party workers only. This lukewarm response appears to have been caused by a series of developments surrounding the Akal leader’s release.
In the first instance, this leader issued a number of contradictory and confusing statements from inside jail. Mann and Tohra reportedly sought membership of India’s “national integration council” for Mann and Badal to oversee the developments at Ayodhya o that the Muslim shrine there was prevented from being vandalized by the BJP. They also appealed to the Indian army chief of staff to put Sikh troops on duty at Ayodhya. They also pleaded for K.P.S. Gill-led Punjab Armed Police to lend a helping government not to miss the “last opportunity” of sorting out the Punjab problem with leaders of the boycotting parties as well as the militant groups. He left many matters vague. He was noncommittal on the Khalistan resolution passed by second-rung leaders of the boycotting Sikh groups. Most of these leaders are: now in jail. They have not been released along with the three leading Akalis,
But as soon as the three leaders came out of jail, they changed their stance noticeably. For instance, Mann and Tohra stated they would continue peacefully fighting for an independent Sikh state. They endorsed the Hola Mohalla resolution passed by the masses at the instance of their second rung leaders in favour of Khalistan, They also sought corporation from. Dalits and Hindus of Punjab for an independent State of Khalistan At the same time, these leaders said the problem essentially is only related to Sikhs.
Bedal refrained from making any comment as soon as he met the press and posed for photographs with his wife at Chandigarh, He, however, promised a settlement after three or four days, No such statement was issued by him.
Instead, Mann came out with a statement which he claimed had been endorsed but not signed by Badal and Tohra, This settlement purported to have been jointly authored by the thee leaders, It “endorsed” the Anandpur Sahib resolution in favour of Khalistan; But, the leaders showed no signs of backing the demand up is the any specific plan of action, It merely said that when he comes TO India later this month and present him with a memorandum in Favour of Khalistan. In short, the UN help would be sought for the Creation of Khalistan.
Meanwhile, Babbar Khalsa International s action at the Bhakra Mainline canal repairs works had tremendous political impact on India. There were heat last minute preparations to run Water in the canal before more militant groups join hands to breach the Water carrier foe Haryana ad Rajasthan,
The Indian government appears A quite Worried at the poor prospects of monsoon this year, Already,
Delhi is planning to import four million tonnes of wheat for in overseas.
It is banking heavenly on Punjab for about five million tonnes which may be flowing into the states markets in the next few weeks.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 1, 1992
