AMRITSAR: The Akal Takht Chief, Prof Darshan Singh Ragi on Thursday welcomed the release of 137 Jodhpur detainees but questioned why the rest of them were not released when they were all booked under the same offence.
Prof. Darshan Singh Ragi, who: arrived at the holy city for the first time on Thursday after being installed the jathedar of the Akal Takht on August 31, said the Prime Minister’s advice that religion should be separated from politics was impractical.
I can say it with conviction that religion and politics cannot be separated even if you want it. In the Sikh history the two have merged wonderfully,” he said citing the example of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Prof Ragi strongly criticized the Bidar incident in which seven Sikh students were killed and several injured. It was highly deplorable country no press or government agency disclosed the incident for four days. The incident came to be known from the students who managed to reach Punjab after saving their fife About 250 to 300 students have so far reached Punjab and the neighboring areas to which they belong.
Any negotiation with the government about the Punjab problem has to be between the leaders and the youth. “I will only try to create an atmosphere for negotiations by uniting the leaders,” he said. Clarifying the meaning of “youths” he said that he meant all those people who believed in Sikh tenants. Any person who harms the innocent is not included in this.
But he said before any negotiations can take place the government has to fulfill certain demands like the release of all Jodhpur detainees punishing the culprits of the Delhi riots and withdrawal of cases against the Sikh youth.
Prof Ragi did not want to entertain any question about the Sarbat Khalsa. He said that I do not want to comment on the topic and added that he had no idea if the Akal Takht would decide to call a Sarbat Khalsa later some time.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 7, 1988
