LUDHIANA: President of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabanhak Committee (SGPC) Gurcharan Singh Tohra offered to face the Sikh judicial commission against the alleged corruption and other charges leveled by his rivals. He refused to elaborate on the point saying, “It is against the Sikh traditions.” The declaration of the candidates for SGPC polls will be made within one month, he said. Tohra was here in connection with the foundation laying ceremony of a gurdwara at village near Ludhiana. He said charges of misuse of gurdwara *golak’ fund for political purposes was totally baseless. Tohra demanded more time for campaigning. “At least three weeks” time should be given instead of two weeks at present. I have spoken to SGPC election panel in this regard.” To a question about the prospects of his as the SGPC chief and the party in the forthcoming polls, he said he is 100 percent confident that his party will romp home victorious. He added that the whole Sikh sangat is with him which “you can make out from results of the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.” He lamented the frequent .criticism in the Sikh religion. “This is not seen in other religions. He gave an example of Vaishno Devi Shrine Board where lakh of pilgrims visit every year but nobody criticized the religion. “Actually the criticism is giving bad name to Sikhs on the whole,” he clarified. Tohra also criticized the Punjab government saying there is no administration in the state. He demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar because of continuous deadlock in the ministry.

Rao’s son on RBI defaulters list

The RBI’s loan defaulters list of 3.995 defaulting corporate accounts includes the names of V Prabhakar Rao, son of former PM Narasimha Rao, and his close associate R Sambasiva Rao.

26 militants killed in Kashmir

Twenty-six militants, including six Pakistani intruders, were among the 33 people killed in Kashmir, as security forces apprehended nine ultras and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 14, 1996