WSN Service
AMRITSAR: Former S.G.P.C. Chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra stated that any move to hold Assembly election until a political solution to the Punjab problem was found would be illogical.
Speaking at the bhog ceremony of the widow of former S.G.P.C. official Abnashi Singh here the S.G.P.C. former President said that the appointment of a top police officer as governor of Punjab by the Censure showed that the government was not interested in finding out a political solution to the Punjab problem.
The Akali leader mobilized about 30 Sikh organizations ‘a few days ago to lend support militants The representatives of these organizations are scheduled to meet on September 1 to discuss the issue of elections. Tohra himself appears to be in favour of boycotting the poll. That will take him closer to the stand of the militant groups who too are opposed to Sikhs participation in the elections.
Interestingly Akali Dal (Badal) chief Parkash Singh Badal has maintained silence on the Anandpur Saheb resolution passed by Sikh organizations on August 11 acknowledging that militants were leaders of the Sikhs and that they along had a right to negotiate with the govt in an effort at finding a solution to the Punjab problem. When Badal is silent on a matter it shows his reservation. In any case Badal and Tohra have drifted from each other are not said to be even on speaking terms. In the wake of these developments factions headed by Simranjit Singh Mann and Bhai Manjit Singh have decided to join hands according to a statement issued jointly by AISSF general secretary Harminder Singh Gill and Akali Dal (Mann) general secretary Ram Singh. The historic unity the statement added had been achieved as a result of a meeting of Manjit Singh and Mann at Dalhousie. However the two groups would maintain their own identity.
According to reports the unity move has the support of militant leader Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal He had earlier elevated the AISSF as a political wing of his militant group. .
In other words new alignments are taking place within the Sikh community. Tohra and a vast majority of Sikh organizations are veering round to boycotting the proposed election Mann and Manjit groups appear determined to offer contest. The latter groups might even come to terms with the Badal and Barnala factions.
That most Sikh group’s favor a boycott was indicated by the trend of discussions at the Anandpur Saheb meeting. What gave an added thrust to the trend was the success of the two-day strike called by the panthic committee comprising Dr.Sohan Singh and others on August 14-15.
Observers feel that the panthic committee’s call was politically significant. It is for the first time that the strike call was a resounding success Earlier the committee mostly gave calls to protest against excesses by security forces. Even Hindus and other sections of the population never took much exception to those calls. However last week’s protest action was aimed at boycotting the Indian Independence Day celebrations.
Hindu response was negative. Most members of this community opened their business establishments under the protection of security forces especially in big cities. In medium sized and small towns Hindus Willy nilly abstained from opening their shops mostly due to fear of militants.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 23, 1991
