PATIALA: While expressing “satisfaction” over achieving Akali unity by merging the two prime Akali factions into the Shiromani Akali Dal, the acting jathedar of the Akal Takht Prof. Manjit Singh, said that his job and responsibility in this regard was also over.

Prof. Manjit Singh, who left for over a one month-long foreign tour, issued this statement in a press more handed over to media persons at his residence last week.

It was never my intention to interfere in the formation of the SAD structure, he said and added that it was for the leaders to decide about party matters and setting their political goals, At the same time he said that it did not mean that the Akal Takht would not interfere in party affairs in future.

Prof. Manjit Singh said that in the future the need arose he would again make his leadership available to the Akali Dal.

This two page typed press note in Punjab is, in fact, addressed to the Sikh sangat and touches every aspect concerning Sikh pant hand the Akalis.

It was for the first time since the unity efforts started over a year goon April 13, 1994, the Akal Takht jathedar has clarified that the aim of the Sikh panth and the aim of a political party the Shiromani Akali Dal were quite different. The jathedar asserted that the Akali Dal which represents the Sikh community, Punjab and its surrounding states, had been adopting political! resolutions keeping in view their timely political needs and also with the aim of achieving political power in Punjab. Therefore, the Anandpur Sahib resolutions and the Amritsar declaration, drafted in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, carried historical and religious sanctity and will continue to have historical values.

He said a clarification of these issues by the Akal Takht was necessary because of conflicting statements issued by the Akalis, Without taking side, Prof. Manjit Singh warned the Akali leaders to refrain from issuing statements against each other.

Defining the panthic goal’ the Jathedar said that it should be based on human values of “Sarbat Khalsa? (Wellbeing of all) as enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib. The jathedar appeals to the Akalis to rise above their petty interests.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 5, 1995