FATEHGARH SAHIB: Owing to the changed political situation and a relaxed atmosphere tens of thousands of pilgrims came here for the 3 day Jor Mela. According to official estimates 300,000 attended the mela.
Several political parties including the UADM organized meetings at different venues at the mela. The militants dominated the show. The AISSF captured the stage of the SGPC in Diwan Todar Mall Hall and did not allow any leader of the SGPC or Akali Dal (Badal) to address the congregation.
A spokesman of the AISSF told newsmen that the stage was controlled by an 11 member ad hoc panel of the district unit. He said had anyone from the Mann group or the BKU, a farmers body, would be allowed to speak.
On the other hand while addressing a conference at the old site facing the gurdwara, the SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra said activists of the AISSF approached the SGPC authorities to allow them the Todar Mall Hall the usual site of the SGPC meeting. They also offered to jointly address the congregation, Tohra claimed. Since they are our children they were allotted the Hall, he said.
Tohra reiterated the demand of general amnesty in Punjab and rehabilitation of Army deserters in order to create a congenial atmosphere to find a lasting solution to the Punjab problem. The Longowal accord he said could not solve the problem. The SGPC chief announced that his party would encourage and support the youth during the coming Assembly polls. We will not fight these elections, he said.
Demanding an enquiry and stem action against police officials responsible for the killing of innocent youth in fake encounters, Tohra said the govt should initiate action immediately against 16 officials whose names had been released by certain groups. New police officers should be appointed in Punjab.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 29, 1989
