ANANDPUR SAHIB PUNJAB: S. Gurcharan Singh Tohra tendered his resignation from President-ship of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. He handed over his resignation to S. Surjit Singh Barnala who is both the Chief Minister of Punjab and President of Akali Dal. Political analysts consider his resignation as a victory for the A.I.S.S.F and Damdami Taksal and they also feel that the Barnala Balwant Singh combine has sacrificed Tohra to appease A.LS.S.F and Damdami Taksal.
More than 50000 Sikhs attended the Sarbat Khalsa meeting at Anandpur. The meeting was Called by the Akali Dal to counter the decision of the January 26 Sarbat Khalsa called by A.I.S.S.F. and Damdami Taksal.
The crowd attending the official Sarbat Khalsa meeting was being collected by putting all the State machinery into operation. Deputy Commissioners and senior police officers were directed to mobilize people for the meeting. State transport buses and private trucks were requisitioned to take people to Anandpur Sahib.
The meeting re-instated ousted Akal Takht Jathedar Kirpal Singh and Golden Temple Head Granthi Giani Sahib Singh and called upon the Government to take peaceful steps to get the Golden Temple vacated from the possession of Damdami Taksal and AISSF.
However former Akali Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal warned that forcible eviction of A.I.S.S.F and Damdami Taksal from the Golden Temple through army or Para-military forces would result in the death of the Akali Dal. He advised the authorities to settle the issue through good will and affection. Pointing to Sujit Singh Barnala he said that their confidence in the sincerity of the Central Government was misplaced. “The Central Government would not easily give justice to Punjab he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 22, 1991
