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CHANDIGARH: Akali leader Sukhjinder Singh is believed to have promoted a new party Shiromani Akali Dal Sulehjindet) on encouragement by the Indian government authorities.

Sukhjinder Singh who broke away from the Akali Dal headed by Parkash Singh Badal announced the formation of his party early this week. He told newsmen that the Akali Dal (S) would contest the forthcoming election and would try to promote the cause of “Khalistan” through parliamentary means.

The Akali leader claims the support of panthic committee associated with Baba Wassan Singh Jaffarwal. However according to political analysts not many local cadres of the committee take kindly to the extension of patronage to Sukhjinder Singh. The latter is backed by Dr. Jagjit Singh Chauhan a London-based spokesman of the panthic committee.

The Hinds media which treats all moves and statements issued by panthic committees and pro-Punjab elements as plague played up Sukhjinder Singhs announcement. The Tribune a Hindu fundamentalist newspaper gave front page treatment to the news along with a picture of Sukhjinder Singh. Many other newspapers too treated the development similarly. This despite the fact that no leader of note left the Akali Dal (Badal) to follow Sukhjinder Singh. The exception was Mewa SinghGilla former M.P. from Ludhiana who was known for his proximity to the then Punjab Governor S.S Ray. Since Sukhjinder Singh lacks organizational skill not many Akali leaders and workers are likely to follow him.

In all probability according to analysis the Indian government authorities provided encouragement to Sukhjinder Singh to float the new party. The Indian establishment is well known for having its fingers in every party’s pi. It did not want Badal to make his anti-Delhi move of boycotting the election without facing the prospect of disruption of his panty.

It is also fairly known by now that Delhi earlier prompted Jathedar Jivan Singh Umranagal to form his Shiromani Jagat Akali Dal Umranangal’s proximity to India’s intelligence agencies is a common knowledge. But his outfit filed to put the Sutlej on fire. No Sikhs announced support to his move.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 7, 1992