According to reports appearing in the Indian Press, efforts are on to unite the Akali’ Dal groups under the leadership of G.S.Tohra.
Jagdev Singh Talwandi is reported to have met him at Gurdwara Sangh Dhesian in Jullundur during a meeting of the SGPC Executive body and requested Tohra to come forward and take over the leadership of the Akali Dal. Similarly Surjit Singh Bamalaand Sukhjinder Singh who head the Akali Dal (Longowal) and Akali Dal (S) are said to have indicated their willingness to accept the leadership of Tohra. Some leaders of Akali Dal (Mann) are also ready to accept Tohra.
However Tohra does not want to come into conflict with Badal, who heads the Akali Dal (Badal). He is indebted to Badal for his support when the Government wanted to book the SGPC Chief on charge of murdering Baldev Singh Lang.
President of the Patiala district unit of Akali Dal (Mann).
Sources close to Akali leaders say Amrinder Singh is also ready to accept Tohra. However Simranjit Singh Mann will not give up the president ship of the party, nor will he accept Tohra as president of Akali Dal.
Some UK and Canada based leaders are in India and busy persuading the different Akali groups to unite Mewa Singh Gill, former MP now settled in Canada is also meeting Akali Leaders in a bid to forge unity.
It is possible that the Akal Takhat Jathedar may summon the different Akali factions and direct them to dissolve their units and unite. A similar Hukumnama was issued in 1987 by Prof.Darshan Singh. An: Akal Takhat edict may even constitute a presidium of leaders to run the affairs of Sikhs.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 26, 1993
