From News Dispatches NEW DELHI: The United Akali Dal president, Simranjeet Singh Mann, has requested the Chief Justice of India, Mr. ES. Venkataramiah to grant him an audience so that he would have an opportunity to express his views on the vexed Punjab problem.
In a letter to the Chief Justice Mann facing charges of conspiracy in the Indira Gandhi case said, “if only my advice is appreciated and accepted violence in Punjab will be stopped and the state will return to normalcy.”
He said his allegiance to the Constitution of India was total and “T stand by the integrity of the country. At the same time I do not believe in the practice of terrorism by individual or state.”
The information about Mann’s letter was conveyed to PTI by R.S. Sodhi a Supreme Court advocate.
Describing himself as a “much misunderstood man”, Mann said that he had served the country “well and faithfully” while he was in the Indian Police Service, “ I would like to convey our people’s philosophy to the Government directly or through you,” he said in the letter.
Political observers here feel that Mr. Mann is under tremendous Pressure. His statements will be valid only after his release from detention they said.
Meanwhile the AISSF has warned Mr. Mann not to negotiate with the government on the Punjab issue. Harminder Singh Sandhu general secretary AISSF told Mann that his reputation would suffer if he did not withdraw his Request to meet the Chief Justice.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 8, 1989
