CHANDIGARH: Simranjit Singh Mann has suddenly found merits in the Rajiv Longowal accord when he regretted that the accord was not implemented by an insincere center.
Addressing a series of public meetings in Sangrur last week, Mann gave the impression that he would have been happy had the accord been implemented. Mann’s Statement comes in the wake of his. Opposition to the construction of the SYL canal and reported threats to his life reportedly from a secret organisation floated jointly by Devi Lal and Badal.
The SYL canal construction was the mainstay of the Longowal Rajiv accord. The Center has been frantically trying for several months now to reach an agreement with certain pliable Akali leaders which leaves the canal issue undisturbed and makes a show of concessions to Sikhs on less important issues.
Mann had been refusing to be roped in. His opposition to the canal construction came as a big shock to Delhi.
Observers have been shocked by Mann’s new stance. He has not only been quiet on the canal but has found merit in the Longowal accord even after the militants strike against Balwant Singh. Militants thought that Akali leaders through the Rajiv Longowal accord stabbed the Sikh movement in the back not only with respect of its timing but also by its content.
By agreeing to the SYL canal, the Akalis had given up the rights of the Sikhs made available to them by the constitution of India. The militants made it clear that while striving for a sovereign state they would not allow surrender of any existing right. Militants had great expectations from Mann that he would never follow in the footsteps of Akalis.
Another major issue on which Mann has of late revealed his utter lack of discretion is the permission to unscrupulous traditional Akalis to join his party and pollute it.
Leaders of Akali Dal Longowal such as Amar Singh Nalini of Patiala, Sukhdev Singh Dhillon of Bathinda and others are joining the Mann group in droves and are being rewarded party posts. So much so there is even talk of Surjan Singh Thekedar joining the party. He was one of the first to condemn the killing of Balwant Singh
It is learnt that for the time being the issue of the resignations o Chautala and the 3 ministers ha: been delinked. Chautala’s case will be decided in a couple of day: when the new CM is swom in. The PM may reshuffle his ministry or his return from the Soviet Union He may even do so before departure on July 23 but observer: think not. However at the moment the issue has died out for all practical purposes.
Earlier the PM himself had offered to resign at the height of the crisis.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 20, 1990
