LUDHIANA: The UAD Presidium today recommended to its President, Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann, to stop Mr. Jagdev Singh Talwandi from his anti Panthic and antiparty activities and take disciplinary action against him. The Presidium met at Gurdwara Manji Sahib, Alamgir 15 km from here today to take stock of the situation arising out of the ‘Split in the party with the election of Mr. Talwandi as its President.
The meeting asked Mr. Talwandi not to “play in the hands” of Government agents because the Sikhs were already unhappy with his suspicious role.
The Presidium expressed full confidence in the leadership of Mr. Mann as he was the only Sikh leader made President of the Akali Dal by the entire Sikh quom, including the five high priests.
The Chandigarh meeting of August 25 was unconstitutional and illegal because this was not attended by any Presidium member. This had weakened the Sikh Panth.
The proceedings of the meeting were released to the Press by Mr. Charanjit Singh Walia, Secretary General of the UAD Presidium.
The meeting supported the call given by five Sikh priests Bhai Jasbir Singh (Jathedar of Akal Takht), Bhai Jaswant Singh (Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib), Bhai Swinder Singh (Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib), Bhai Kashmir Singh (head granthi of Akal Takht) and Giani Puran Singh (head granthi of Harmandar Sahib) for observing “Ardas divas” on September 11 and 12 to “free Harmandar Sahib from the control of the Government.”
The Presidium assailed the detention of Mr. Mann, Akali leaders and workers and Army deserters in different jails of the country and sought their release immediately.
By another resolution, the Presidium said there could be no peace in Punjab until “fake” police encounters were stopped and the guilty for the 1984 riots punished.
Mr. Walia said that Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Mr. Surjan Singh Thekedar continued to be members of the Presidium.
About the installation of Mr. Darshan Singh as Akal Takht Jathedar on August 31, he said it ‘was a drama because “we do not recognize him as Jathedar of Akal Takht.”
They released a statement by Baba Joginder Singh in which he had denied having met Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala. Baba Joginder Singh said he would file a case against the newspaper concerned for publishing false news.
Baba Joginder Singh said there ‘was no question of his meeting Mr. Barnala who had been excommunicated from the Sikh Panth.
A statement was also issued by Baba Thakar Singh, Damdami Taksal chief, denying reports that he had extended support to Mr. Talwandi.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 9, 1988
