AMRITSAR, Punjab, India: The five member Panthic Committee has declared that nobody would be allowed to initiate a dialogue with the Government on an agenda short of “Khalistan”,
In a significant handwritten and signed statement issued to newsmen by Giani Jagir Singh, a spokesman of the “committee”, inside the Golden Temple complex the panel assured the Sikhs that no talks except on the issue of “Khalistan” would be held with the Government. “The ‘committee’ said the fight for “Khalistan” was an organized one and was being fought in a “well planned manner. “There is no question of giving it up”, he asserted.
Expressing similar sentiments on the issue of “Khalistan” in an identical but separate statement the 11member “Council of Khalistan” appealed to the Sikh head Priests to seek the approval of Baba Thakar Singh. Acting chief of the Damdami Taksal, before announcing the appointment of the new President of the All India Sikhs Students Federation on April 13.
These statements of the “Panthic Committee” and the “council” have come before the Sikh congregation, called by Bhai Jasbir Singh Khalsa. Jathedar of Akal Takht. To be held at Takht Damdama Sahib at Tailwind Sabo in Bathinda district on the occasion of Vaisakhi. These statements assume importance as this congregation has purposely been convened to “know the minds” of the Sikhs to give a clear cut programme to the “quom” and formally announce the merger of the two factions of the AISSF. In its second statement since the release of Mr. Jasbir Singh and other head priests from jail on March 5, the “committee” also ruled that only Sikh principles we are supreme, not any individual or institution. The “committee” called upon the Sikhs to follow only Sikh principles were supreme not only individual or institution. The “committee” called upon the Sikhs to follow only Sikh principles and not any individual or institution.
The statement said that the “committee” had been providing political and religious direction and guidance to the Sikhs since its formation by the “Sarbat Khalsa” on January 30, 1986. “The goal of Khalistan had already been set by it on April 29, 1986, as per the wishes of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale”, it said.
The “committee” said hundreds of Sikhs, including two members of the original “Panthic Committee” Bhai Aroor Singh and Bhai Gurdev Singh Usmanwala —— had already laid down their lives in the struggle launched for the achievement of the “goal”.
The statement has been issued is on the letterhead of the “committee” and carries the signature of all five members —— Dalvinder Singh, Dalbir Singh, Gurbachan Singh Manochachal, Vassan Singh and Kanwarjit Singh.
In its statement the “Council of Khalistan” appealed to the Sikh head priests not to project the
“traitor” political leaders among the Sikhs. Without naming any Sikh political leader or party the statement said the head priests should rather help Sikhs to get rid of such leaders.
The statement further said as long as the control of the Sikh shrines remained with “Government agents”, the Sikhs would continue to “suffer”.
The “Council” pointed out that the government by releasing some detainees had tried to create suspicion in the minds of the Sikhs.
The “Council” claried that militants had nothing to do with “the black cat Commando Force”. This was an organization of the “Government agents” who had killed several families of Sikhs.
The statement of the “Council” carried the signatures of four of its 11 members —— Gurnam Singh Bundala, Resham Singh Malmori, Sukhpal Singh and Shamsher Singh.
In separate statements the spokesman of the “Panthic Committee”, the “Council of Khalistan”, the AISSF (Gurjit faction) the “Khalistan Commando Force” and the “Bhindranwale Tigers Force” refuted the news item appearing in a section of the Press regarding firing inside the temple complex on Sunday.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 22, 1988
