CHANDIGARH: Half a dozen Akal groups whose representatives met here on April 28 evidently toned down the pro Khalistan resolution passed by the seconding leaders at the “hola mohalla” function at: Anandpur Sahib. The representatives reluctantly “endorsed” the Anandpur resolution without reiterating what that resolution really was after Parkash Singh Badal appealed for caution and pleaded that a subdued resolution should be passed. “If we endorsed the Anandpur resolution all avenues of a negotiated settlement would be closed” he said

Consequently the Akali conclave held at the local office of the S.G.P.G passed a vague unspecified resolution “endorsing” the resolutions passing the Anandpur Saheb and Talwandi Sabo. The resolutions at Anandpur Saheb and Talwandi Sabo sponsored by the second-rung leaders of the six Akali groups had called for the formation of an independent sovereign Sikh state of Khalistan. Most of the participants were later arrested by the government.

It is however believed that representatives of Babbar Akali al insisted on mentioning the Sikh demand of Khalistan in the resolution.

The conclave was organize evidently to chalk out a program of action to enforce the Khalistan resolution In this connection the conclave supported the B.K.U call to farmers not to bring their wheat stocks for sale to markets from May 1 to protest against low uneconomic procurement price of Rs. 380. The conclave also asked the S.G.P.C and the Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak committee to jointly forma trust to give relief to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

In an apparent effort at gauging the mood of the Sikh youths the conclave decided to send senior kali leaders to jails in Punjab to meet the Sikh inmates lodged there. The first such call will begin later this week from the Patiala central jail

The Akali also backed the call to punches and sarpanches to resign their posts to protest against the state repression against Sikhs.

Those who participated in the conclave were Parkash Singh Badal Sukhdev Singh Chamkaur Saheb Prof Rajinder Singh Barjinder Singh Jasbir Singh Ghuman Sarbjit Singh Sokal Gurcharan Singh Tohra Manjit Singh Kadian and others.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 8, 1996