This observation was made by Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President Shiromani Gurdwara, Parbandhak Committee here last week.

Moe Tohra said that the Akal Dal (Amritsar) had always stood for the unity of the Punjabis and had great regard for all Punjabis. He regretted that there were certain Punjabis who did not accept Punjabi as their mother tongue and Nad caused damage to the Sikh institutions.

Mr. Tohra was hinting towards the Akali Dal (Badal) President, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, who has now given the slogan of unity of Punjabis and Punjabi at, whereas they wore themselves raising hard slogans, and these very leaders were now playing in the hands of those who had done harm to the Sikh religion and Sikh institutions.

The SGPC chief explained that it had been the policy of the Central Government, to keep the Sikhs divided and anti-Sikh forces were also now backing the moves of the Central Government. Those Sikh leaders who fell in the trap of the Government and the anti-Sikh forces were described as “moderates”

 He said that the Akali Dal (Amritsar) was gaining popularity day by day and there was great enthusiasm among the Sikhs to become members of the same. “We are not meeting the demand’ for membership forms. As a matter of fact, the Sikhs arc rallying round the Akali Dal (Amritsar) which had been formed under the patronage of Akal Takhi,” he said. 

The SGPC chief maintained that the Akali Dal (Badal) had violated Akal Takht and the Sikhs were rejecting the same. They were rejecting Akali Dal (Badal) because they had realized that this was a hindrance in the unity of the Panth.

He said that the so-called moderate Sikhs were doing harm to the Sikh Struggle as they wore giving Hew slogans after every short inter Val Mr. Tohra also charged that the moderate Sikhs were doing harm to the Sikh institutions and the Sikh history.

Mr. Tohra also appealed to the followers of the Akali Dal that their main aim was to safeguard the Sikh principles and traditions and Sikh institutions and Sikh culture, “Our aim is also to fight for justice for the Sikh minority nets.” Mr. Tohra said that perpetrators were also on for the world Sikh Meeting being held in Amritsar from November 24 to 27.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 29, 1994