By WSN Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Political observers here have been baffled by the contradictory and incoherent stand of Simranjit Singh Mann and his group on Punjab issue. Mann had earlier said he would not hold talks unless some preconditions were met, these included repeal of black laws, release of Political prisoners, rehabilitation of army deserters and trial of killers of Sikhs in 1984.

The Union Govt repealed the 59th amendment and announced plans to set up a special court to try the guilty of the Sikh carnage. Beyond these Delhi did not do anything. It did not repeal the Terrorists and Disruption Activities Act under which thousands of Sikhs have been held. It also did not release Atinderpal Singh; M.P. Mann even then opened a dialogue with the deputy prime Minister Mr. Devi Lal. PTI reported the two were together for 45 minutes in Delhi.

Though Mann did not attend the all party meeting on Dec 17, Gurtej Singh his party spokesman according to the Times of India, gave approval to the policy document prepared at this meeting. This, Gurtej Singh did at a meeting he had with BJP and Communist Party leaders at Chandigarh on Jan 2.

The document denounced so-called terrorism and called for an uninterrupted fight against it. It also underlined the need to back police officers for the so called good work done by them in killing thousands of Sikh youths. There was no denial by Gurtej Singh of the newspaper report all these days.

But Mann himself took contradictory positions CPM leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet said Mann group agreed to come to the Jan 11 Ludhiana rally on Jan 2 but a day later said it would not do so.

Surjeet, The Times newspaper, said was not perturbed by Mann’s move. Mann had earlier in Faridkot said he would be glad to attend if invited. On Jan 4, Mann declared in Delhi that he would not attend the all party meeting.

In a statement to the press distributed by Jethmalani on his behalf, Mann said, “I don’t expect Buta Singh or his party to make any contribution to solving the problems. He was however willing to talk to anyone in the new govt. He also said he would see to it that not a single drop of innocent blood was shed in Punjab.

Meanwhile at Batala the AISSF leaders announced they would not take part in the rally. But according to Bimal Khalsa, the decision of the Mann group would be taken on Jan 10 at Jathedar Khudian’s bhog ceremony.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 12, 1990