CHANDIGARH, India: The four Sikh Priests gave a call to all the Sikhs to support the freedom fighters in their efforts to shake off the shackles of slavery.
The four High Priests have announced the merger of all units of freedom fighters into a single unit to hold the reins of the Sikh qaum for which priests issued a directive on Aug. 17.
‘The Priests Jaswant Singh, Swinder Singh, Puran Singhand Kashmir Singh said in a statement that merger decision and a new programme will be announced shortly. It was stated at the press conference that the priests held earlier at Darshani Deodi after a prolonged meeting.
The statement was read out by ‘Jaswant Singh. The priests called upon the Sikhs to lend the freedom fighters their wholehearted support in their struggle for breaking the shackles of slavery. Only the youth could pull the Sikhs out of the oppression as the Akali leadership had become irrelevant.
Although the priests did not use the word Khalistan, they maintained that the Sikhs were slaves and would strive to achieve freedom at all costs. Asked to explain the word ‘Azad’ used by them that it was for the government to decide whether it wanted to grant freedom to Sikhs within India or outside India, The demand for separation has grown out of the suppression ‘let loose by the government which was literally against the Sikhs, their religion, their places of worship particularly the Golden Temple.
‘The Priests condemned the entries of the security forces into the Golden Temple Complex and warned that such a step would prove to be the disastrous nail in the coffin of the government.
The Priests quoted from Rehat Nama and enjoined upon the Sikhs to leave their homes and stand as security guards to protect the sanctity of the Gurdwaras, It was alleged that Sikhs visiting Darshan Singh were being harassed.
They came heavily upon fake encounters, desecration of places of worship, dishonouring of Sikh women, harassment of Sikhs and branding them as ‘terrorists.
The pride and honour of the Sikh community has been injured, a foolish act. In a reply to a unless this was restored by halting question the Priests said that they. State terrorism, there could be no have not met Darshan Singh after peace. The priests said that Akali he left for Faridkot. Darshan Teasers should wear bangles; wear Singh decided to retreat on Aug, 8 women’s clothes and stayat home. In favor of freedom fighters pro while the women should come viding them an opportunity to give forward. Asa consequence of their direction to both religion and polymeric vision, the Akali lead ertical aspects to the Sikhs, The four ship has landed the Panth in a priests were confident that free humiliating situation. The Sikh Dom fighters were capable of pro Panth has been stabbed in the viding the leadership. The Priests ‘back. The Sikhs should reject and came out strongly against the go boycott the leadership. ‘Emend predicting that no goy
‘The Priests did not spare even ornament can survive for long by ‘Darshan Singh who they said has continuing to commit atrocities on fled the battlefield. His retreat a community that knows how to fight back, they added.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 18, 1987
