AMRITSAR: Despite a call for Sikh groups unity issued Carly this week by S.G.P.C., no meaningful progress has been achieved in bringing about unity among the various Sikh groups. The unity initiative has come mainly from the Barnala and Talwandi faction which hardly has any following among the Sikhs. The two leading factions headed by Simranjit Singh Mann and Parkash Singh Badal are reluctant to talk about unity. Observers feel that the Badal group is busy gearing up its administrative machinery to mobilize the Sikhs on a variety of traditional issues. Its aim appears to be to strengthen its mass base first before talking about unity with the Mann Dal, The Badal group views any initiative on unity as premature. In the first instance, no elections are at hand. Secondly, the group would like to talk from a position of reasonable strength. That requires time. In the meanwhile, Badal had talks with Bhai Manjit Singh who heads a small group. This group has a limited following in Amritsar district. Badal’s aim appears to be to take the Manjit faction along with his own group and use it to strengthen its position. On the other hand, the four Sikh groups the Babbar Akali Dal, the Baba Akali Dal, the Sikh Students Federation (MehtaChawla) and Babbar Vidyarthi Jathedbandi announced their unity plans at Anandpur Saheb. These plans are likely to be further pursued at Damdama Saheb in Bathinda district on April 13. As for the Mann group is concerned, it is sitting pretty and is not taking any initiative to bring about unity even with the four pro militant Sikh groups,

Meanwhile, the Indian authorities are ruthlessly moving ahead to kill as many Sikh youths as they can lay their hands on. It is alleged that in most cases the youths killed are in the custody of the police.

The Indian authorities have stepped up efforts to locate the places where the militant Sikh leader Bhai Daljit Singh could be staying. Bhai Daljit Singh’s close relations have been held repeatedly to find out from the where about of Bhai Daljit Singh. Among them is Bhai Mohinder Singh Grewal who is also general secretary of Interactional Human Rights Organization based at Ludhiana. Not a day passes when Bhai Mohinder Singh is not called to the police station at Ludhiana for questioning in connection with Bhai Daljit Singh. The LH.R.O, has strongly protested against harassment of Bhai Mohinder Singh Grewal by the Indian authorities.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 2, 1993