LUDHIANA: The Unified Akali Dal Presidium has expressed confidence in the leadership of its president, Simranjit Singh Mann. The members urged upon its president to take disciplinary action against Mr. Jagdev Singh Talwandi for his antiparty activities. The president which met at Gurdwara Alamgir at Ludhiana for three hours termed the Chandigarh meeting of UAD as illegal where Jagdey Singh Talwandi was elected as president of the party. The presidium members also termed that meeting as unconstitutional as it was not attended by any of the presidium members. It also termed as an attempt to weaken the panth and the party by some so called Akali leaders. They also alleged that it was an attempt to weaken the case of Mr. Mann in the court.

Briefing the newsmen after the meeting UAD Secretary General Charanjit Walia and Sucha Singh Chhotepur both presidium members released the resolutions passed by the meeting. One of the resolutions appealed to the rival Akali leaders not to weaken the party by becoming the stooge of the center. They also called upon the leaders and workers of the Akali party not to be misled by the false propagandas let loose at the instance of the central government.

The presidium supported the call given by Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode and his other colleagues to observe September 11, 12, 1960 as “prayer days” to ‘free’ the Golden Temple from Govt control by September 30, 1988. The meeting also demanded immediate release of Mr. Mann Jodhpur detneus and other Akali workers.

It also demanded severe action against those congressmen responsible for Delhi riots on November 1984.

The meeting was attended by four of the seven presidium members. Parkash Singh Badal and Surjan Singh Tehkedar are in jail. Mr. Jagdev Singh Talwandi was the only absentee. Those present included two recently inducted controversial members Walia and Chhotepur, Gajja Singh and Baba Joginder Singh, Sant Ajit Singh of Ropar was also present.

Answering a question Chhotepur said Prof. Darshan Singh could not become Akal Takhat Jathedar for the second term. Mr. Walia maintained that their efforts to unite the panth would continue but disciplinary action will be taken against all those who broke the discipline.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 2, 1988