CHANDIGARIH, India’s Parkash Singh Badal, President of Rebel Akali Dal today held Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, fully responsible for the communal flare up in which six persons were killed, Addressing a largely attended convention at Amlloh in Patiala district, he said that these clashes took place in Delhi under the nose of Prime Minister and said that it had the blessing of Mr. Gandhi. He said that there has been violence in Punjab but it never turned out to be a group clashes. “Police” he said, “could have averted it but the authorities deliberately let it go”. The Former Chief Minister said that such happenings are bound to have its repercussions in Punjab, The Muktsar killings of innocent people should be condemned by every person but the retaliation is 0 way to stop it. The speech which was punctuated by slogans of Bhindranwale Amar Rahe and A.I.S.S.F zindabad was a scathing attack on Centre and Punjab government. He said that the Punjab accord was a mockery of the sentiments of Sikhs and an act of treachery on the Panth. About Chandigarh issue, Mr. Badal observed that we could do without Chandigarh and cannot be silent Spectator to what was happening to Punjab on the water issue, He said that he had ample proof that Surjit Singh Barnala, Chief Minister of Punjab, was likely to sacrifice state interest by giving river waters to Haryana at the behest of Central government. He said Barnala has been allowed to continue as Chief Minister in spite of law and order situation because the Centre wanted to impose its will on water issue to get SYL Canal project executed, Mr. Badaladded, Panth would never forgive Mr. Barnala for his treachery to Punjab.
He reiterated that the only solution to Punjab was to have talks with Youth Organizations like A.I.S.S.F. and Damdami Taksal. He condemned the killing of Sikh youth in fake police encounters, Several Punjab ministers of the ruling party have publically criticized the government killings of Sikhs, and Mr. Badal also lashed out at the Director General of Police, Mr. J.S. Ribera.
Mr. Badal said that he was in constant touch with his party men in Delhi and elsewhere about the situation, Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra, an Akali leader said that the Akali Dal won the last assembly election not on the issue of accord but because of the sacrifices made by the party. He said that if the accord had been the deciding factor then perhaps Congress (I) and the C.P.I. who had made it their election plank, would have won the elections. He said that the killing of Sikhs outside Punjab would not be permitted. Lashing out at the Punjab ministers, he gave a call to the people to boycott the ministers whenever they visit their villages. He said that they were blemished people.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 1, 1986
