LUDHIANA: Capt Kanwaljit Singh General Secretary, Akali Dal (Longowal), appealed to the Panthic organizations to do some introspection and ponder why the Akalis had been weakened. Talking to newsmen, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that the six Panthic organizations were meeting ala Ume when the dark clouds of the Ayodhya issue were casting shadows and the country was on the brink of a communal flare-up. He said that the issue of Punjab which was being again and again called by these leaders as a Sikh issue was being viewed in a narrow manner. The situation in Punjab affected the lives of all people and it had become an issue of deep concern for all Punjabis, he remarked.
Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that some leaders by isolating the Sikhs had cut themselves from 40% of the population, of the remaining 60% Sikh population, roughly 25% followed non-Akali political parties, The Akalis were, therefore, left with an extremely narrow base of only 35%.
He maintained that the election boycott by the Akalis had been a major setback, “It is a fact that the boycott of the elections took place because of the threats of militants.” Capt Kanwaljit Singh said that there were two important things which needed to be done in Punjab immediately, One was immediate relief to the people from the increased state repression under the: Beant Singh government. This could only be done if this government was packed off as early as possible. Secondly, a peaceful mass struggle by all Punjabis was needed to be organized for getting justice for the state and bringing peace. Capt Kanwaljit Singh welcomed the statement of Jagdey Singh Talwandi favoring the Anandpur Sahib resolution as the solution of the Punjab problem.
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 14, 1992
