PATIALA: Distention’s rather than unity dominated the proceedings of the convention organized by the United Akal Dal (Mann). The freedom fighters who virtually dominated the convention set the tone by fiercely attacking senior Akali leaders including SGPC President Gurcharan Singh Tohra, former Chief Minister Surit Singh Barnala and “others who had spent their lives in the pleasures of power.”

Followers of Tohra lead by UAD leader Surjan Singh Thekedar walked out when Jagdey Singh Dhundia former Chairman Punjab Marketing Board and a leader of the UAD faction lead by Baba Joginder Singh, father of Simiranjit Singh Mann, launched a tirade against Tohra and Badal alleging they had brought on operation Blue Star resenting the popularity of Sant Jamail Singh Bhindranwale.

This lead to resentment amongst UAD leaders who walked out. They included Basant Singh Khalsa former minister, Kikar Singh former MLA and Kirpal Singh Libra Ex. MLA.

A eleven member team led by former ministers of the Barnala cabinet, Natha Singh Dalam, Capt Kumaljit Singh and Baldev Singh Mann, also kept out of the meeting.

The convention had been held at the claimed directive of the detained president of UAD Sim

Tanjit Singh Mann, its venue was his father farm house, and various Akali factions had attended it, barring the freedom fighters. While one faction of the Akali Dal went to Chandigarh the Tohra faction went to Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib for consultations. They said they had withdrawn to avoid confrontation but agreed with the purpose with which the convention was held. Thekeadar said he came because he wanted unity but inspite of the persuasion of Joginder Singh Mann they did not return to the convention. According to Gurtej Singh an TAS officer who had resigned in 1984 following the army’s attack on Golden Temple and is now the General Secretary of UAD (Mann), the leaders agreed to set up a 13 member committee consisting of representatives of all groups to work for unity.

‘The attendance at the convention was poor but the organizers claimed it was a representative meet which was not open to the public.

The convention adopted several resolutions, ironically one of them. for Panthic Unity. Others asked for stopping of fake encounters release of Badal, Tohra and other Akali leaders. It demanded the withdrawal of cases against Simiranjit Singh Mann.

Gurtej Singh who moved the resolution stuck a note of moderation and said “we should trust each other.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 30, 1989