MALAUT, India: A conference of the breakaway Akali Dal led by S. Parkash Singh Badal scheduled to be held in the curfew bound town of Abohar on October 25 was postponed indefinitely in view of the prevailing situation in the town. The decision to put off the conference was announced by Mr. Badal at Malaut the party General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Dhinsa at Chandigarh. The former Chief Minister denied the press reports that his party had called for a gherao of the Malaut town from Oct. 25 on the pattern of gherao of Batala town six months ago, Mr. Badal described the report as highly mischievous and aimed at tarnishing the party’s image. Mr. Dhinsa also emphasized in a talk with the newsmen that his party has never called for gherao of the Malaut town. The announcement regarding the postponement of the conference was received with relief by the State Government which has been watching with increasing concern the situation at Malaut. The town had been under curfew for the last ten days following incidents of violence. Although at one stage the Akali Dal Badal ‘was toying with the idea of holding a conference at Grain Mandi outside the limits of Malaut town, government officials were of the view that situation at Malaut was so sensitive that even a small spark could ignite it. The proposed conference according to them would have only hastened polarization among the people along communal lines. Therefore, the government was getting ready to prevent the conference from being held.
The Governor Mr. SS. Ray who visited Malaut recently was also of the view that the conference should not be held there. But the fact that the Governor choose to ask the Chief Minister to see that the conference was not allowed to be held came in for strong criticism from the Akali Dal Badal and raised eyebrows even in the ruling Akali Dal, Mr. Ray had given a strong warning to Mr. Barnala that he should prevail upon Badal group to stop the conference.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 31, 1986
