TALWANDI SABO: Election manifesto of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) was released last Week at its political conference held at the holy city hereto mark the “birthday of Khalsa Panth.”

It pledged to fight for more autonomy for states, scrapping of all previous accords and agreements on adjudication of interstates river waters, filling of SYL with earth, transfer of Chandigarh and other left out Punjab speaking areas into the state, free education for girls up to graduation, free power to tube wells person all old persons who had attained the age of 65 years and review of the Punjab Health Systemic Corporation, if voted to power. The conference was jointly organized with the Bahujan Suma} Party.

‘The manifesto, which es benefits to almost all sections of society including, lower strata, traders, farmers, industrialists, small time shopkeepers, school children, working journalists and Special Police officers etc. was released by the Akali Dal supremo, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal.

(On the other hand, the political conference, jointly organized by the United Akali Balbo Sikh Stents Federation fens), the BKU (Lakhowal), organized under the patronage of the Sant Samaj pledged to keep alive the glorious Sikh traditions after coming into power. The Panthic Council also promised remunerative prices to the famers and work for the welfare of society as a whole. Like Raj Karega Khalsa were also raised.

Noted Punjabi folksinger, Mr. Kuldip Manak who is contesting the Bathinda (reserved) as an independent candidate Said that he would raise the is sties con coming artists, singers on the floor of Parliament if voted to power. The meeting of’ Mr. Manak attracted biggest rush as a big “brigade” of singers thronged the holy city to enthrall the audience. “My manifesto is as simple as lam said Mr. Manak.  I am a son of the soil and would die for the cause of people.

Releasing the manifesto of his party, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal said that he would endeavor to give a corruption free government in the state. He ridiculed that the Congress manifesto, released by party president, Mr. Narasimha Rao, also pledged to give corruption free government  though he himself was involved in the multicore ‘hawala’ racket and share scam, sugar muddle etc.

Interestingly, after a long gap, the Akali Dal (Badal) mentioned the name of controversial Anandpur Sahib Resolution. The manifesto reads that the Anandpur Sahib.

 Resolution also advocated the demand of federal stricture. The party pledged to seek the cooperation of other like-minded political parties and for getting the demand for federal structure. This will help strengthening of the nation as whole, the demand for federal setup ‘was also put forward by other parties. ‘

The manifesto further reads that the Akali Dal would endeavor for the constitution of high level ommission by the judges of Stepmom Court for probing in to the role of the Congress party’s alleged role in the creation of militancy and divide and rule policy, The manifesto further said that the ‘kali Dal believed in ‘the principle of equality of all human beings irrespective of caste creed, race or religion. The party ‘would set up human rights commission. ‘Mr, Badal said that the Akali Dal would take up the case of granting second language status to Punjabi in other Punjabi ‘speaking states, If voted to power, the ‘Akali Dal would get the guilty of anti‘Sikh riots in 1984 punished. Besides, persons who suffered big losses during the infamous Operation Blue Star would get suitable compensation.

Conducive atmosphere would be erected for independent working of judiciary. The end of alleged police’ raj” would be ensured after the formation of an ‘Akali government. If voted to power the ‘Akali government would order judicial probes against those police officials who committed excesses on innocent persons during the Congress rule. For the benefit of farmers, the Akali Dal pledged to waive the farmers irrigation water rent. Price of farm produce would be linked with the price index.

‘The Akali Dal will also work for the formation of the All India Gurdwara Act. Under this Act, the Nehru Tara Singh accord will not be ignored while drafting the same.

‘To please the traders, the Akali Dal promised to abolish the octroi in the state. The octroi employees would be given alternative jobs. The sales tax structure would be simplified after consultation with the radars. ‘The manifesto also pledged to regularize the services of ad hoc and work charged employees. ‘The school children would be allowed free travel in government and private buses. All the SPOs will be adjusted in the Punjab Police, No police employee or official would be sent for duty in other slates, Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra, President, the SGPC, was conspicuous by his absence on this occasion. However, MI Balwinder Singh Bhunder, General Secretary and former Minister, Mr, Gurdev Singh Badal senior Vice-president and oilier leaders of the parry without naming the leaders of the Panthic Council accused that they were furthering case of the congress to the people TOL to be swayed by the slogans of such leaders and bring the Akali Dal into power.

Addressing the big conference, jointly organized by the Panthic Council, Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann, president the Akali Dal (Amritsar) said that Mr. Badal “stabbed” in the back of the Panth by not coming into the fold of panthic unity. He said that Mr, Badal should be held responsible for disunity of the Panthic forces. Former Chief of Akal Takht, Prof Darshan Singh, while launching a frontal attack on Mr. Parkash Singh Badal alleged that he was cither after power or thought only for his family at the cost of Sikh Panth. While, Mr. Badal always accused Mr. Mann for differences of opinion, lie ridiculed on what basis he had chosen to reach a poll alliance with the BSP which was poles apart, so far as their ideologies were concerned. He added that the BSP had no Principles an it reached the poll alliance with Samajwadi Janata Party then BJP and the Congress with a view to come to power. Instead of a poll alliance with such parties, Mr. Badal should have coming to the Panthic fold, Prof Darshan Singh said.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 17, 1996