CHANDIGARH: Mr Daljit Singh has been elected President of the unifed Sikh Students Federation (SSF).

At a joint session of the delegates of the All India Sikh Students Federation (Daljit Singh) and the Sikh Students Federation (Buttar group), it was decided to dissolve the existing factions and form a unifed Sikh Students Federation. The session was attended by representatives of various militant organisations also.

According to a statement released by Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Gahil, Press Secretary of the SSF, a central committee has been constituted to oversee its functioning. The committee consists of Mr Brajinder Singh Panjwar (Senior Vice President); Mr Harjit Singh and Mr Sulakhan Singh Qadian (Vice Presidents); Mr Satpal Singh (General Secretary), Dr Ranbir Singh (Secretary); Mr Sital Singh (Organising Secretary); Mr Nirmal Singh Nohra (Joint Secretary); Mr Ji Singh Patiala (Office Secretary); Mr Mahesh Inder Singh “Gahil” (Press Secretary) and Mr Kulwant ‘Singh Khukrana (Propaganda Secretary).

The statement said the SSF would be organised at the international level. In the initial stages, the SSF would set up its units in all educational institutions. The district presidents and state presidents would be announced in consultation with the members soon.

At the international level, Sikh youth would be organised through the International Sikh Youth Federation. All these organisations would be linked to Akal Takht for religious guidance so that the struggle for “Khalistan” could be made successful, the statement also announced

The names of the ISYF representatives in various countries. They are Mr Parminder Singh Bal (UK); Mr Lakhbir Singh (Switzerland), Mr Bhupinder Singh (Holland); Mr Bahadur Singh (Germany); Mr Waryman Singh (Thailand); Mr GS. Dhillon (Hong Kong); Mr Kashmir Singh Gosal (France); Mr Harjit Singh Khaira (Canada) and Mr G. S. Walia (USA).

The statement clarified that Mr Jasbir Singh Rode, Mr Lakhbir Singh Rode and Mr Tarsam Singh had nothing to do with the ISYF. The dissensions created in the ISYF by them, the statement said, was not because of principles but ‘on personal grounds. It asked Sikhs to be cautious about them.

It clarified that the new federation did not want to confine itself to India alone. This was why its name had been changed to the SSF, by dropping the words “all India, It said “Khalistan” would be a place where tenets of Sikhism as mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib would be given a practical shape. There would be a casteless and developing society.

The new federation accepted the command of the “Panthic Committee” and decided to abide by. Its directives. The statement said that the difference between the SSF, and other militant organisations, including the Babbar KhaIsa, KCF, and the KLF, was in name alone. The SSF respected all militant organisations.

It also appealed to other factions of the federation to join the SSF. The doors of the SSF, the statement said, were open. At the same time it cautioned those who were determined to cause dissensions. Any person, irrespective of his age or sex, could join the SSF the statement said.

 The statement further added that in the current struggle certain undesirable activities had crept in. These pertain to robberies, extortion of money, unwanted killings, factionalism, immoral activities and misuse of the name of militants to settle personal scores. Such actions, the statement said, brought a bad name to the struggle.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 5, 1990