CHANDIGARH: The Babbar Akali Dal announced a boycott of the elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assembly in Punjab.

Mr Kartar Singh Narang convener of an 11-member ad hoc committee of the party said elections were no solution to the Punjab problem. On the contrary the holding of elections was a link in the Centre’s conspiracy to divide the Sikh struggle. Describing the elections as a “stunt” he regretted that certain Sikh organisations had agreed to take part in the poll in order to satisfy their lust for power.

At the Press conference which was also attended by several other members of the ad hoc committee including Col Jasmer Singh Mr R.P. Singh Mr Mohkam Singh Mr Mohinder Singh and Prof Gurdip Singh it was alleged that Baba Manochahal who heads a Panthic Committee had been “misled” by the Centre to take part in the elections thus undermining the militants’ struggle.

Mr Narang took exception to the decision of Bhai Manjit Singh to take part in the elections and said the AISSF leader had all along been swearing by “Khalistan” It was therefore strange to find him eager to fight the elections thereby swearing allegiance to the Indian Constitution.

They objected to the role reportedly being played by Baba ‘Thakar Singh acting head of the Damdami Taksal in bringing about reconciliation between Bhai Manjit Singh and Mann on the question of sharing of seats. They said while they had all respect for Baba Thakar Singh they were of the opinion that the Sikh religious leader should not interfere in political matters.

They criticised the so-called Coordination Committee and said it had neither and backing of neither the Sikh masses nor a mandate of the Sikhs to negotiate with the Centre. They were of the view that a former IAS officer Mr Gurtej Singh had played the role of a go between the Union Government and that Manjit Singh and others like certain Sikh leaders who had brought about the accord between Mr Rajiv Gandhi and Sant Harchand Singh Longowal in 1985.

They emphasised that unless the present set-up in the country under-went a change it would be useless to take part in the elections. They stood for freedom from injustice and wanted a sovereign “Khalistan”. The Constitution in its present form did “not give any rights” to the states. How could any Sikh representative take part in the elections before the Constitution was changed?  Sikh youth were being killed in “fake” encounters and women insulted al police stations. The army had created an atmosphere of terror in villages. How could they fight the elections unless all these activities were brought to a halt?

There were thousands of Sikh youth languishing up jails and “black laws” were in force in Punjab How could they contest the elections if this meant undermining the militant struggle and taking advantage of the sacrifices made by them?

Article extracted from this publication >> May 3, 1991