NEW DELHI: After Chander Shekhar Akalis new hero is Ram Jethmalani. Akali leader Simranjit Singh Mann said here that S.G.P.C. chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra had decided to give “moral support” to Ram Jethmatani for his candidature for the post of Indian presidency.
Although during the brief Chander Shekhar rule the per day killings of Sikh youths broke all previous records in Punjab the Akalis still showered praises on Shekhar as “Sikhs best bet.”
Mann said R.J.s record was unblemished. He is capable of contributing to restoration of peace in Punjab if elected “Jethmalani will be able apply balm on the Sikh wounds” Mann said. In reply to another question Mann said “He is an ideal candidate who is acceptable to all minorities including Muslims Dalit’s and the backward communities
It may be recalled that the Indian President is duty bound under the country’s Constitution to sign all papers sent in by the central council of ministers. He hardly has any role to play in the country’s politics except marginally at the time of accepting claims of majority support by a candidate of Prime Minister Ship.
When asked whether he approved of the stance adopted by Simranjit Singh Mann on the political situation in Punjab Jethmalani said “Given goodwill and statesmanship the Punjab problem can still be solved with in the printers of Indian unity.”
He went on to elaborate “I have not lost hope that the Sikhs will forget and forgive. But it needs a healing touch” he said.
Gurcharan Singh Tohra did not react immediately to Manns claim about his support for the Jethmalani candidature Akalis have neither any M.P nor M.L.A to support the presidential candidates.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 29, 1992
