CHANDIGARH: A combination of Akali and Sikh student federations which contributed to the success of boycott of the February Punjab election is on the verge of collapse

The combination has been losing credibility among the Sikh masses because of its failure to give any specific program of action in pursuance of the goal of Khalistan. Farmers in early May withheld wheat from Indias purchase program but the call for that came not from the so-called panthic organizations as from the Bharti Kisan Union. Several leaders of the union in fact made it a point to criticize Akali groups for their failure to cooperate with the B.K.U.

Another significant program of action is now underway calling for mass resignation by sarpanches and panches. This call too has not come from the Akali combination. It has been issued by the various militant organizations. June 30 has been fixed as the deadline for the completion of the negotiation.

In fact far from giving any effective program of action senior Akali leaders have made themselves scarce from the scene. Parkash Singh Badal is already in the United States in connection with an eye operation Mann recently went to Delhi to support Ram Jethamalani who is contesting presidential election. He also claimed Tohras support although Tohra himself never confirmed the claim.

Meanwhile the Punjab chief minister singled out Tohra for attacks recently Beant Singh accused Tohra of hatching a conspiracy to do away with a Mann justice to Punjab Akali leader Baldev Singh Lang who was killed last year by Babbar Khalsa International. The governments allegation was presumably based on confessional statements by two former B.K.I activists who were detained by the Rajasthan police. These B.K.I Leaders were dismissed from the organizations by the B.K.l. as renegades but were admitted to the Khalistan Commando Force headed by Budhsinghwala. Mysteriously the two militants whom the Rajasthan police transferred to the Punjab police after a few days died and an announcement to that effect was made by the Punjab police. Then came an assurance from official circles to the S.G.P.C chief that the government had no intention of pursuing the case against him. In taking its decision it appears the government was influenced not only by the fact that the allegation against Tohra had weak foundations but also by a campaign in favor of the S.G.P.C chief by numerous Akali leaders. However prior to the government move to drop the allegation.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 12, 1992