LUDHIANA, India: The annual convention of Punjab Sikh Lawyers Forum has appealed to the Sikh leadership to renounce the Punjab accord as it had already died its natural death. The convention was of the view that Punjab accord had various defects and was in the least interest of the state, the convention blamed the Barnala government for its illegal and corrupt practices in Punjab.

Supporting the Anandpur Sahib resolution, the convention urged the Sikh masses and other democratic forces to continue their struggle for the autonomy of Punjab and support the cause of all organizations which are fighting for their cultural and religious identities and human rights in India. ‘The convention condemned the fake police encounters. It was decided to demonstrate at Chandigarh in front of Raj Bhawan to protest against the fake encounters and present a memorandum to the Punjab governor. The convention condemned the killing of innocent Hindus and Sikhs in Punjab. Convention also assailed the Antiterrorist and Disruptive Activities Act. The convention further warned the government to abstain from legal terrorism; The convention assailed the attempt at gagging the press and urged the Press Council of India, the Editors’ Guild of India and other journalist organizations to build up opinion in favor of more tolerant, sober and responsible press.

The Punjab Vidhan Sabha was asked to enact a law which should permanently ban the entry of police and common does into the Golden Temple Complex. The proposal for a security belt along the Indo Pak border was also opposed by the convention. The convention was attended by represent a lives drawn from different parts of the State.

Meanwhile, the report of the probe conducted by a five member committee let by Justice Ajit Singh Bains into the alleged killings of youth in Dera Baba Nanak area by security forces was released by the Convention.

The probe committee did not believe the theory of the encounter and was of the view that victims were already in the custody of BSF.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 21, 1986