AMRITSAR: The election scenario in Punjab may undergo a dramatic change following an appeal by the Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Commando Force (Panjwar) here to the militants and their relatives to retire from the electoral contests
The outfits have also directed the self-styled Panthic candidates not to use the name of the militant outfits solicit support.
The Babbar Khalsa and KCF anyway operate under the umbrella of the panthic committee headed by Dr Sohan Singh which is boycotting the elections.
Within hours of the appeal Mr Amnk Singh from the Tarn Taran parliamentary constituency Mr Milap Singh from Amritsar assembly and Mr Raghuvir Singh from the Beas assembly segment retired from the contests. They announced their decision at a hurriedly-called Press conference
Mr Amrik Singh is the father of the two slain members of the KCF Harjinder Singh Pehlwan and Vikramjit Singh Bika and cousin of the slain KCF chief Kanwaljit Singh Sultanwind Milap Singh is the brother of the late Kanwaljit Singh. Both were contesting as independent candidates.
The Akali Dal (Badal) candidate Mr
Raghuvir Singh is the father of Mr Jagdev Singh Sarja.
PLEA TO RELATIVES: Reiterating their resolve to follow the line set by Dr Sohan Singh the three men exhorted the other relatives of the slain militants to shun electoral politics and follow the directives of the panthic committee.
In its seven-page Press release issued by its Press secretary Mr Kulwant Singh the Babbar Khalsa lambasted the AISSF (Manjit) it’s present mentor and the BTFK chief Mr Gurbachan Singh Manochahl the Akali Dal (Mann) and other Akalis for participating in the elections.
It described it as a sign of their mental bankruptcy. The Babbar Khalsa felt that participating in the elections while demanding Khalistan had exposed their duplicity. The approach of the Akali Dal (Mann) and the AISSF has adversely affected the Sikh struggle at the international level. The Babbar Khalsa said it holds all the militants and their close relatives in high esteem for their sacrifices and would reward them appropriately under the new dispensation of Khalistan It also warned the candidates using its name to solicit support and reiterated its decision to boycott the elections
The Babbar Khalsa exhorted Mr Harminder Singh Tanny lodged in Burail Jail near Chandigarh to retire from the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency since his sacrifices were too great to be repaid in the form of votes under the Indian Constitution
CANDIDATES WARNED: The group also warned Mr Manjit Singh Rajasansi Prof Pooran Singh Mr Charan Singh and Master Sukhdev Singh against using the name of the Babbar Khalsa.
The KCF (Panjwar) warned Mr Surinder Singh son of the slain chief minister of Punjab Mr Pratap Singh Kairon and his supporters not to use the name of the outfit to attract support at the hustings.
Mr Manjit Singh and Mr Simranjit Singh Mann were aspiring for the chief ministership while Mr Gurbachan Singh Manochahal wants to be recognized as the Jathedar of the Akal Takht it said.
The Babbar Khalsa leaders Mr Sukhdev Singh Babbar Mr Talvinder Singh Mr Wadhawa Singh Mr Mahal Singh and Mr Kulwant Singh Babbar had reportedly reviewed the situation in the wake of the Akali Dal (Mann) AISSF (Manjit); and a number of militants and their close relatives jumping into the electoral fray.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 7, 1991
