AMRITSAR, Punjab, India: The three Head Priests declared that they were willing t0 approach the freedom fighters in order to bring them to the negotiation table for a dialogue with the Centre to help to resolve the Punjab problem. This statement followed the Janata Party President, Chander Shekhar’s opinion favoring a government dialogue with the freedom fighters, condemning the government’s double standards and indifferent approach to Punjab problem. These views were expressed by Chander Shekhar at a meeting held between the three Head Priests and Janata Party delegation, headed by him. This meeting was held at the residence of Singh Sahib Bhai Kashmir Singh and was attended by his two other colleagues, Bhai Savinder Singh and Bhai Jaswant Singh. Significantly Bhai Puran Singh who was also invited, opted to stay away.

These deliberations took place before the arrests of these Head Priests, Today’s meeting was the culmination of earlier negotiations between Shekhar’s representatives and the Head Priests. In fact, two of his representatives also. met Baba Thakur Singh, acting head of Damdami Taksal at Chowk Mehta, only two days ago. Baba Thakur Singh was supposed to attend but somehow he was unable to ‘come.

Singh Sahib Bhai Jaswant Singh, while talking to newsmen, said that Mr. Shekhar was advised to meet eleven member Khalistan Council, appointed by the Panthic Committee on October 11, The Priests claimed that now the government cannot take refuge under the excuse of talking to whom as being no leader of the freedom fighting groups. These members are the real representatives of the ‘Sikh community, the Priests pointed out.

Later, briefing the newsmen, Mr. Chander Shekhar said that he did not subscribe to the demand of Khalistan but he has appealed 10 the Head Priests to make use of their good offices to initiate a dialogue between the freedom fighters and the government to bring peace in the State, Mr. Shekhar said, He accused the Centre of avoiding taking an initiative for solving Punjab problem. According to him, the only solution to Punjab tangle was to talk to the freedom fighters, Mr. Shekhar accused the government of not trying to establish contacts with the Sikh freedom fighters as it had previously done with the Mizo rebels who also at one time demanded nothing less than an independent State.

‘According to Mr. Shekhar, the Head Priests had open mind on all issues, He got the impression that they were sincerely willing to cooperate for a settlement, Mr. Shekhar claimed, He said that the Head Priests were basically religious people and were not committed to any political demand. When asked by the pressmen whether he discussed the issue of Khalistan with the Head Priests, Mr. Shekar replied that it was not proper for him to comment upon it.

The statement categorically declared that ALSS.F. will take revenge from the officers responsible for the killing of Bhai Manbir Singh.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 23, 1987