CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government on Oct.31 banned the proposed Akali march to Delhi in protest against the sacrilege of the Guijjarwal gurdwara, in Ludhiana district.
Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Akali Dal (Mann), announced that he will lead the march after the arrest of other leaders. Those arrested include former Chief Ministers Prakash Singh Badal and Surjit Singh Barnala, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta and Jagdey Singh Talwandi,
A report from Amritsar said the police had cordoned the Golden Temple complex and put up barricades on all roads and lanes leading to it to prevent the entry of Akali activists,
All devotees entering the temple were also being frisked and screened before being allowed entry.
The police have also arrested two SGPC members Ajit Singh Sekhon and Maan Singh Grewal, along with 50 Akali activists.
The march coincides with the birth anniversary of the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Dass, who founded Amritsar and the Golden Temple.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 5, 1993
