AMRITSAR: The AISSF (Manjit) has split. A section of senior leaders revolted against the federation chief Bhai Manjit Singh and formed a parallel group.
A-5 member ad-hoc committee to run the affairs of the splinter group has been set up with Mr Kuldip Singh Kahion as its convener. The other members of the committee are Mr Baldev Singh Hotian Mr Dharambir Singh Kamoke Mr Surinder Singh and Mr Guriqbal Singh.
The decision to Part Company with Bhai Manjit Singh it is learnt was taken by the leaders at an emergency meeting held here.
The meeting accused the federation chief of hobnobbing with the government and gross irregularities in the distribution of the tickets. It held Bhai Manjit Singh responsible for the humiliating defeat of the federation supported candidates in the municipal corporation elections.
The ad hoc committee according to Mr Kahion has been authorized to nominate district and circle presidents of the “parallel” federation.
Significantly the breakaway faction has decided to adopt and support the candidates other than those fielded by the federation.
The meeting released the first list of candidates owned by the breakaway group.
The meeting decided to support Mr Amrik Singh a relative of a top KCF leader from the Tar Taran parliamentary seal where Bhai Manjit Singh is also contesting.
Other candidates in the list are Mr Kanwaljit Singh an accused hijacker lodged in Ajmer jail against senior federation leader and close confidant of Bhai Manjit Singh Mr Harminder Singh Gill Mr Harinder Singh Khalsa (Dakha) Col Harbant Singh Kahlon Ludhiana (rural) and Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala (Nakodar) Mr Mohan Singh Mattia (Ajnala).
The second list of the candidates would be released soon.
The split in the Federation has come close on the heels of the revolt by the entire district unit of Ferozepore.
A senior Federation spokesman termed the split as an “insignificant revolt” by certain “disgruntled” elements. The federation had already disowned these leaders. He added that a handful of persons could not form a parallel body.
The ad hoc committee according to Mr Kahlon would end irregularities being committed from the Federation’s platform support able candidates in the elections and intensify the Sikh struggle.
The committee would set up a Sikh court comprising the accepted Sikh personalities under the auspices of Akal Takht with an aim to remove the misgiving and differences among the militant organizations.
The “parallel” Federation would prevent the infiltration of government agents into the militant ranks.
The federation Mr Kahlon said would adopt every constitutional and non-constitutional methods to for the Sikh struggle for independence. Bhai Manjit Singh is understood to be under pressure from the militants to retire from the Tarn Taran parliamentary constituency in favor of a top detained militant Bhai Reshan Singh Malmori who is also in the fray.
The pressure is from the Panthic Committee led by Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. Sources say the federation chief is likely to bow out of the Taran Taran Lok Sabha seat contest. Bhai Resham Singh Malmori has been a close associate of Baba Manochahal since 1984 and Lt General of the Bhindranwale Tigers Force of Khalistan Bhai Malmori according to the sources acted as a PA to Baba Manochahal.
Bhai Malmori was caught in the Terai region of U.P six months ago.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 10, 1991
