AMRITSAR: Even as UAD-M. President Simranjit Singh Mann has been blaming the continued spate of violence in Punjab on the vigilante groups raised by the Congress I and the police, some of his. Party MPs have sought protection from the state police itself.

An interesting case is that of party MP from Ferozepur Dhian Singh Mand. The 25 year old MP from the border constituency who defeated both Cong-I and Lok Dal candidates has sought withdrawal of the security guard provided to him during poll.

Soon after the disappearance of Jagdev Singh Khudian, Mand requested security cover. He was provided two personal bodyguards and a jeep with four policemen.

On the other hand the UAD-M leadership has been saying it suspects foul play in Khudian’s death. They along-with their AISSF allies have blamed Khudian’s death on the vigilante groups. As for Khudian himself, he had returned the security guard soon after he was elected in November. Khudian had reportedly scoffed at the idea of security guards saying that he feared no one. However Khudian had used the security men all through his campaign. Had he not returned the guards the police claim he would not have died, the way he did.

Another UAD-M MP, Rajinder Kaur who was elected from Ludhiana continues to have an armed escort apart from police protection. Security to her has been _ provided by the Ludhiana district police even as she has been blaming the SSP Sumer Singh Saini of killing her husband Prof Rajinderpal Singh.

Interestingly both Mrs. Kaur and Khudian were among the four UAD-M MPs who had taken the oath in Parliament in December. Certain militant groups had then issued threats to the MPs for having professed faith in the Indian constitution. Khudian’s mysterious death followed soon after. The other two MPs to have taken oath were Rajdev Singh a relatively unknown advocate from Sangrur and Sucha Singh father of Beant -Singh. Both refused security. Rajdev Singh has a private armed bodyguard.

The MPs yet to take oath are Mann, Mand and Mrs. Bimal Khalsa. The independent MP from Patiala Atinderpal Singh is also yet to take the oath. Mrs. Khalsa is on record saying she did not require any security. But a group of security men are always escorting her. Although Mann says he is confident of bringing the militants to the negotiating table once the correct and relevant signals are transmitted by the center, a section of the militants headed by Dr. Sohan Singh of the parallel Panthic committee, Daljit Singh Bittoo and certain other groups questioned Mann’s statement and reiterated their demand for Khalistan.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 26, 1990