CHANDIGARH: Disagreement ‘over the paramilitary attack on the Golden Temple exploded in sharp division in the ruling Akali Dal. Two Minsters, Mr. Amarinder Singh and Mr. Sukhjinder Singh resigned from the Barnala cabinet followed by the resignation of another Minister, Mr. Su cha Singh Chhotepur. Some senior members of the’ Akali Dal working committee including Mr. Park ash Singh Badal, and Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra also resigned from their posts, their resign nation letters to the Chief Minister, Punjab, the Ministers said that the entry of troops into the Golden Temple Complex sent a wave of anguish and shock in the Sikh World because for the Sikhs it was an act of terrible sacrilege and utter disrespect to their faith. It has hurt us deeply, therefore, to uphold the gold traditions; we tender our resignations from the Council of Ministers.

Mr. Tohra and Mr. Badal condemned the police action by Mr. Barnala and called its “black spot in the history of Akali Dal”. About 28 Akali Dal legislators in a separate signed statement condemned the police action in Darbar Sahib. They said that Sarbat Khalsa at ‘Anandpurshib had directed S.G_ P.C, and Akali Dal to flush out ‘unwanted elements from the Temple Complex but Sarbat Khalsa had not and could not authorize any government action as claimed. By Mr. Barnala. Four out of seven Akali_ members of Indian Parliament condemned the police act join and resigned from the party posts. The kedar Surjan Singh, vice president of Akali Dal party and Mr. Manjit Singh Calcutta, Akali

Dal General Secretary also annoy need their resignations from the party posts. The president and the general secretary of Akali Dal Jatha of Kapurthala also resigned their party posts and demanded change in the leadership of the party. Mr. Kuldip Singh president Akali Jatha, Jullundar and President of Akali Dal Jatha of Ropar also criticized the police action in Darbar Sahib. Jaswant Singh, pre sident Bagha Purrana Akali Dal Jatha, and sixteen office-bearers of Gurdaspur Akali Dal Jatha announced their resignations from the party posts. Many office bearers of the youth Akali Dal also announced their decision to resign from the party.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 9, 1986