CHANDIGARH: Contradictory approaches to Akali leader Simranjit Singh Mann have been revealed in their recent statements issued on behalf of the Panthic Committee comprising Dr Sohan Singh and others.
In one statement distributed among the Ludhiana-based journalists the committee asked Mann to sit at home silently. He should not put up hurdles in the formation of Khalistan Let us settle scores with the Brahamanic Govt By forming united Akali Dal and rating the slogan of self-determination Mann is trying to curry favour with Delhi By doing so he will do nothing but cause a setback to the Panth which could not be permitted. Fight for Khalistan could not be the business of simpletons because the enemy is too clever. The Khalsa with its humility and wisdom alone could be a match to the enemy. It is better that Mr Mann should sit at home so that we are not put to undue botheration. The militants talk less and mean more. Mann should realize the order of the Akal Purukh. The committee’s statement was issued on behalf of Dr Sohan Singh Bhai Mahal Singh Bhai Wadhawa Singh Bhai Satinderpal Singh and Bhai Harjinder Singh. This statement appeared in Ajit of January 17.
But another statement was published by the same newspaper on January 20 from Mohali which took serious notices of the story emanating from Ludhiana. The committee said it had nothing to do with the statement critical of Mann. It asked newspapers to publish such statement after a proper verification. Without adequate scrutiny the publication of such statements express the wisdom of the journalists concerned and at the same time these statements create confusion about the balanced politics pursued by the committee The committee also disowned: threats issued’ to Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode Bhai Gumam Singh Bundala Bhai Rajinder Singh Manta Bhai Amarjit Singh Chawla and Bhai Manjit Singh. We criticize the political thinking and performance of these brothers but we do not allow this criticism to degenerate into personal verification because such a trend leads to bad blood.
The committee stated that the kind of statement against individuals attributed to them should be deemed cancelled despite the fact that certain leaders made highly undignified remarks about our respected leaders Dr Sohan Singh Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar and Bhai Daljit Singh.
(WSN has learnt at the time of going to the press that the Panthic Committee has not changed its position as regards S Mann and has taken note of this attempt to malign it.)
Article extracted from this publication >> January 25, 1991
