AMRITSAR: The Akali Dal (Mamn) general Secretary Charanjit Singh Walia, said any summons or notices issued by the Akal Takht head priest Prof Darshan Singh to the office bearers of his party would be “ignored” as his party did not recognize him as head priest.

Talking to newsmen here, he referred to the reported “notices” issued to some office bearers on the issue of accepting as member of the party a former L.A.S. officer of Punjab, Mr. Malkiat Singh Kailey. (WSN July 21).

(The Akal Takht office or SGPC however have not confirmed if the notices were issued).

Walia said that Kailey was not admitted to the party so far but “we will certainly welcome anybody to the fold of the party who. believes in Sikhism without going into his past.”

Walia accused Prof Darshan Singh as “responsible for erosion and making mockery” of the Akal Takht authority. His selection was for in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SGPC, he added.

To a question he said that the party recognized the SGPC as a Sikh body but the way it appointed Prof Darshan Singh was not acceptable.

Walia reiterated his party’s demand for fresh elections to the SGPC “to restore its credibility.”

On Akali unity, Walia said that his party was in touch with Akali factions but said that his party would prefer new “young leadership”.

Walia said that the party would organize “dharans” at all the districts headquarters from July 21 for withdrawal of false cases against the party president, Simranjit Singh Mann and all other Akali and federation leaders and to protest against “police repressions and fake encounters”, These “dharnas” to be launched from Patiala would take place in each district in the Course of next two months.

Walia also said his party would make efforts to highlight the Punjab problem in the monsoon session of Parliament.

He said that the “insincerity of the government” in solving the Punjab tangle and the “tall claims” made on improving the situation in the state would be taken up for discussions in both Houses of Parliament.

“The fake encounters and repressive measures” being adopted by the state administration had not only alienated tae public but had further deteriorated the situation, he alleged.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 28, 1989