Chandigarh — The Punjab Government which has taken serious note of the objectionable proceedings at the Akali conference at Anandpur Sahib on March 7 during the Hola Mohalla festival, has swung into action against those who raised seditious slogans there.

Cases under Section 124A, IPC, have been filed against Harbans Singh and Gurdev Kaur, who were among those who allegedly raised slogans of seditious nature. Similar cases against some others who indulged in seditious activity are also being processed.

Besides conveying to the Centre the actual goingson at the conference, the state Government has prepared an assessment report analyzing the motives behind the objectionable activities and the effect they are likely to have on the law and order situation in the state.

According to official sources, the Anandpur Sahib conference and the fresh action programme of the Akali Dal marks a new watershed in the party’s confrontation with the Centre. These developments are considered the first collective and well meditated reaction of the Akali rank and file to the incidents started with Operation Bluster at Amritsar in June and culminating in the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the anti-Sikh riots.

The Government also feels concerned at the way the Akali leadership surrendered to the radicals in the audience at the conference and instead of calming them down, hurriedly withdrew leaving the stage to the hawks. The leaders who thought fit to flee the Stage included Mr. Surjan Singh Thekedar. Convener, Akali Dal ad hoc committee, Mr. Prem Singh Lalpura, acting president, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and Mr. Balwant Singh and Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former ministers.

Meanwhile, Akali legislators on Monday decided to submit a memorandum to the Punjab Governor demanding an end to harassment of Sikh youths in the state.

 

The Akali legislators met here on Monday and reviewed the present political situation. It is learned that the Akali MLAs endorsed the seven demands of the Akali Dal ad hoc committee announced at Anandpur Sahib on March 7. The demands include judicial inquiry by a judge of the Supreme Court into the riots that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi and release of all those arrested within the Golden Temple.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 29, 1985