CHANDIGARH: Confusion persists among Akali Dal (Badal) leaders on what should be the party’s political goal in the wake of the growing disenchantment of Sikhs with the Anandpur Saheb resolution.
Senior party leaders met here last week to debate the party’s future program, A small section headed by Kuldip Singh Wadala pleaded for incorporating right to secede in the party’s goal But a more powerful section scotched his line by insisting on the 1973 Anand Saheb resolution seeking more powers for states as the party’s goal.
“Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, a party general secretary, claimed while briefing newsmen that Wadala had not pressed his point at the meeting and the view represented his personal opinion only. The party, he said, stood by the Anandpur Saheb resolution.
However, Dhindsa let it be known that the party at an appropriate sage would consider making changes in the program “in the light of what happened in the Soviet Union”.
“The leaders considered several cases of police repression and decided to meet the Punjab governor soon to apprise him of the party’s concern about fake encounters. The systematic repression and discrimination had completely alienated Sikhs from Delhi, the party leaders felt, “Even for their legitimate rights the Sikhs had to wage long battles.
The party criticized the Centers “mulish obstinacy” against Sikhs whose patience had been exhausted, the party felt that the only way to keep the people together was trough consensus based on mutual trust.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 8, 1991
