AMRITSAR: The Akal Takht acting jathedar, Prof Manjit Singh, who spearheaded an effort to unite the fragmented Akalis, has warned all the Akali factions to put an end to their self-centered and selfish political approach and join hands for the benefit and upliftment of the Sikh community.
Ina three page “message” to the Akali leaders, simultaneously released to the press, he has made scathing remarks against the Akalis for bringing the entire Khalsa Panth to shame with their selfish and self-destructive politics.
Calling the Akali leaders all sorts of names, he has warmed them to stop their internal bickering, as otherwise there was a likelihood of their being disassociated from the Akal Takht, in whose name they had been maintaining their political identity.
In the statement the jathedar further warned that if the Akalis did not desist from criticizing each other, the coming Sikh generation would revolt against them.
Lashing out at the growing criticism of his role in the Akali unity efforts, Prof Manjit Singh, asked the Akali leaders how long they would remain entangled in their crafty politics and push others into it, He also asked them how long they would continue to sacrifice religious personalities to cover up their selfish motives and weaknesses.
He accused them of satiating their hunger for power by nursing different factions of the Akali Dal in the name of the Si Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh Panth. He blamed them for protecting their seats at the cost of the innocent blood of the Sikh youth.
He advised them to work for the release of Sikh detainees from jails located in several parts of the country. He said despite not wanting to intervene in the Akali politics, the five Sikh high priests had from time to time made efforts for Akali unity only after repeated requests from the Akali leaders for their intervention.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 4, 1994
