AMRITSAR, India: The Unified Akali Dal has raised the strength of its 13 members Presidium and council to 21 by giving the representation to the Babbar Khalsa and All India Sikh Student Federation. The decision was taken.at the three hour meeting of the party held at Bhai Gurdas Hall here. The new members are: Mr. Manjit Singh, Mr. Harminder Singh Sandhu, Mr. Avtar Singh, Mr. Kartar Singh Narang, Mr. Gurtej Singf? Mr. Gurdev Singh Badal, Mr. Parkash Singh Majitha and Mr. Basant Singh Khalsa. Barring Mr. Parkash Singh all are either in jail or underground. The Babbars are represented by Mr. Avtar Singh and Mr. Narang. The meeting also decided to add Mr. Amarinder Singh as special invitee to all the meetings. The expansion of the Presidium and the council has come within a week of decommission of the High Priests to give the Unified Akali Dal a free hand to handle political and other issues. The party had come into existence at the behest of the priests when the Akal Takht Jathedar, Singh Sahib Prof. Darshan Singh initiated a move for unity in the Akali circles in February last. The meeting, however, resisted the suggestion of Baba Joginder Singh that except for A.IS.S.F. and Babbar Khalsa no other organization should be given representation at the time of expansion. This suggestion was conveyed by him through a letter addressed to Prof. Darshan Singh. Baba Joginder Singh’s absence from the meeting was explained by the Party’s General Secretary, Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura by saying that Baba Ji is under house arrest in his village, Rode.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 5, 1987
