CHANDIGARH: The move by the Union Government to amend the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act to separated religion from politics has created a stir among the Akalis in Punjab,

The Akali Dal (B) has taken serious notice of the move and expressed the view that the removal of the religious control would make politics dirtier which could assume dangerous proportions. The Akali Dal (L) has convened a meeting of party workers at Sangrur to discuss all aspects of the issue.

Kanwaljit Singh, General Secretary of the party, told newsmen here recently that the central move would bring about far-reaching changes in the politics of the country. As far as Punjab was concerned, it would transform the Akalis organizationally and functionally. The SGPC and the Akali Dal would be effectively separated, If the SGPC elections were held after the amendments neither the Akali Dal nor any other political party would be able to participate in these elections. A member of the SGPC would not be able to become a member of any Akali faction or any other political party.

Any Akali faction claiming to speak for “Khalistan” would be liable to be banned. They would also not be able to participate in electoral politics. The Akali factions would also have to open up their membership to all citizens of the country.

The Akali Dal (B) leaders, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, and Prem Singh Chandumajra, told newsmen that their party was keeping a close watch on the situation arising out of the government’s move 10 separate religion from politics. They also said that the results of the recent Jalandhar by election had cleared the confusion in Akali politics and conclusively proved that it was the Akali Dal (B) alone which had roots among the masses. They appealed to all Akali factions to sink their differences and join hands with the Akali Dal (B),

A meeting of district jathedars of the Akali Dal (B) held here with Prakash Singh Badal in the chair appealed to the Government of India to observe June 6 as “self-introspection day. It also appealed to the people of Punjab to hold Prayers and observe two minute silence in memory of those who died in Operation Blue star which began on this day in 1984.

The Akali Dal (B) also decided to hold meetings in the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency from June 27 to formally thank the voters. Another series of meetings would be held all over Punjab from July 12 to activate the party.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 9, 1993