RODE (FARIDKOT): About 15,000 Sikhs who assembled here last week to participate in the last prayers on the death of Baba Joginder Singh raised their hands for Khalistan when Akali leader Simranjit Singh Mann asked them to. Other senior leaders: Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Prakash Singh Badal were conspicuous by their absence.
Mann left no. one. In doubt when he clarified that Khalistan could not be a part of India with greater or special powers as compared to other states.
On the other hand, Khalistan would be an independent, sovereign nation with its Intemational boundaries touching India on one side, Pakistan on another and China in the north.
Mann’s clarification came in the content of statements by representatives of All Assam students Union, certain Dalit groups from Tamil Nadu, U.P. and Maharashtra who found no reason why Punjab should not be named Khalistan to please Sikhs.
A message of support to the Sikh struggle from the people of Kashmir was read out at the function.
Several traditional leaders in their speeches harped on the theme of Akali unity while Akal Takhat Jathedar Prof, Manjit Singh pleaded that no adverse comment should be made by any speaker on any individual.
These positions were countered by many others like spokesman of the MehtaChawla group of Sikh student’s federation.
There can be no unity without principles, they stated. They also argued that the Sikh congregation could not be concerted into an empty, meaningless ritual.
In fact, Bhai Amarjit Singh Chawla strongly condemned leadership of the Badal Akali Dal for going back on their stand on Khalistan.
‘These leaders had at one ime joined five other Sikh groups to launch a joint movement in favor of Khalistan.
Those who spoke at the function were Kuldip Singh Wadala, Sunjit Singh Barnala, Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Rajdev Singh Barnala and Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode. A significant development at the function was the announcement by the student wing of the Babbar Akali Dal to merge into the Mehta Chawla Sikh Students Federation. The congregation was dominated by speeches on controbutions of late Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 3, 1993
