CHANDIGARH, India: According to informed sources several Congress (I) and Akali Dal (L) leaders brought to the notice of Rajiv Gandhi that Mr. Buta Singh lent clandestine support to Mr. G.S Tohra to defeat the Akali Dal nominee in the recently held S.G.P.C elections. ‘One of the charges against the Union Home Minister is that he caused release from detention of Jathedar Harcharan Singh on the eve of S.G.P.C poll. Jathedar mobilized the majority of S.G.P.C. members from Delhi in support of Gurcharan Singh, Jathedar Harcharan Singh is also believed to have canvassed support to Tohra on the plea that Delhi wanted Tohra to win. Ruling Akali dal circles say that Buta Singh played a treacherous role in this election, On the one hand he used to get in touch with Punjab Chief Minister from Delhi to assure him that he was ‘working for support of Mr. Kabul Singh and on the other hand he asked his contacts among the S.G.P.C. members to vote for Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Mr. Buta Singh’s motive, it is pointed out in a story printed by the Tribune was twofold. He wanted Mr. Gurcharan Singh to win to weaken the Barnala government leading ultimately to its fall, It would have enabled the Home Minister to have a direct say in the administration of the state. The Other objective was to help Gurcharan Singh so that it might be helpful at a later stage to get Mr. Buta Singh exonerated by the high priests.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 12, 1986
