Tohra-Badal dispute
Action shifts to Jor Mela stage
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 23 — Adequate security arrangements have been made for the political conferences to be held on the second day of the Shaheedi Jor Mela beginning here on December 25. The annual mela has great religious and political importance as political parties stage conferences to highlight their point of view and attack others.

Due to the ongoing feud between the Badal and Tohra factions there is more than usual speculation about the SAD conference this year. The SAD has a permanent stage just opposite the Gurdwara where as other political parties are allotted sites by the district administration.

The Akali stage has been cordoned off by the police and a shamiana is being erected by the SGPC. But the SGPC's district Jathedar, Mr Swarn Singh Chanarthal recently switched loyalty from the Tohra faction to Mr Badal. He had a meeting with Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance Minister and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister at the residence of Capt Kanwaljit Singh yesterday.

A five-member committee consisting of Mr Didar Singh Bhatti, Mr Randhir Singh Cheema, former Minister Balwant Singh Sahpur, the Jathedar Swarn Singh and Mr Harbans Singh Mehmoodpur was constituted to supervise arrangements for the Akali conference. Sources said that at the meeting it was decided that keeping in mind the appeal of Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh to both camps to sink their differences and as Mr Tohra was not making any statements, SAD ministers too should refrain from at least using derogatory language against Mr Tohra. It was also decided at the meeting to allow any SAD leader to address the audience from the SAD stage averting a possible clash over this issue.

It is learnt that Mr Badal will take the stage at exactly 12 noon while Mr Tohra is expected to come on stage at 2 p.m.

Sources revealed that the Tohra camp is organising a meeting of his supporters on December 25 at Fatehgarh Sahib to plan their strategy. On the same day Capt Kanwaljit Singh has also summoned a meeting of the district Akali Jatha in preparations for the conferences. It is expected that both camps will decide their strategies at these parallel meetings a day before the conferences.

The position of the lone Akali MLA from the district has become particularly enviable with both sides wooing him. Mr Balwant Singh Sahpur, was elected with the blessings of Mr Tohra but is now attending the meetings of both camps while keeping his cards close to his chest.

Yesterday he attended the function addressed by Mr Tohra at Chanarthal village in the morning. In the evening he attended the meeting at the residence of Capt Kanwaljit Singh and was even made a member of the organising committee.

The public is eagerly anticipating developments at the conference. Supporters of Mr Tohra are hopeful that both Mr Badal and Mr Tohra will address the political conference together easing their stand-off.

Meanwhile, given the bitterness of the dispute and the hard stands taken the police is not taking any chances.

Mr P.C. Dogra, Director General, Punjab Police today reviewed security arrangements for the mela.

Addressing mediapersons, Mr Dogra said the police had made foolproof security arrangements and more than 12 companies of commandos and 5 thousand police jawans had been deployed.