CHANDIGARH: Akali Dal (Mann) President Simranjit Singh Mann on Monday threatened his party would not allow the ashes of the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi to be brought to Punjab but state congress (I) chief Beant Singh said there would be no stopping the procession carrying the um.
Sources in the administration said in Chandigarh the government was aware of Mann’s statement but did not expect any significance response to his call.
“Anybody has the right to abstain from paying homage to a national leader but at the same time it is also the right of others to express their sentiments and pay homage to their leader” they said.
Addressing an election meeting at Raja Sansi near Amritsar on Monday Mann said he had directed his workers all over the state to obstruct the procession in which the um containing the ashes would be taken to various places in the state. He said he feared the procession was likely to arouse communal feelings.
Punjab Congress (I) chief Beant Singh who on Monday brought the ashes of Rajiv Gandhi to Punjab reacted strongly to Mann’s statement and said there was no question of stopping the procession. “Mann should not hurt the sentiments of the thousands of people for their slain leader with his unreasonable statements.” he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 31, 1991
