‘Violation’ by Tohra: SAD raises Nirankari issue again
From Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

FATEHGARH SAHIB, May 16 — The Nirankari issue is set to come back to centre stage with the SAD today appealing to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh to reinquire into the "violation" of the takht's "hukamnama" by former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra by visiting Nirankari Bhavan in Patiala.

A resolution to this effect was passed at a conference held at Todar Mal Hall in Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib to start the party's election campaign for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Th resolution said Sikhs knew that Mr Tohra had visited the Nirankari Bhavan while campaigning of his protege, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, during the last Lok Sabha elections. It said because of this there was need to inquire into the violation afresh as the Sikhs were not satisfied with the earlier decision on the matter.

The other resolutions at the conference, which mainly concentrated on Tohra-bashing in the home district of former SGPC chief, included accusing Mr Tohra of indirectly helping the Congress by creating a division in the Akali Dal. It accused him of having met Congress President Sonia Gandhi secretly with veteran leader Sukhjinder Singh acting as his adviser.

A resolution also welcomed Mr Tohra's expulsion from the party and urged him to stop his "insulting" activities. It also warned the Sikh Panth to be vigilant against his activities. By way of explanation, it said the former SGPC chief had betrayed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and tried to usurp the latter's chair.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister claimed he could show photographs of the former SGPC chief hobnobbing with Congress leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit. He alleged Mr Tohra had been given a one-point programme of harming the Akali Dal by the Congress.

The Chief Minister claimed that Mr Tohra and his supporters would try to disturb peace in the state. He said small mistakes might have been made by his government but the people should look at bigger issues like the need for reinstaling Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister to ensure development of Punjab.

The also gave a lengthy explanation of the respect he had given to the former SGPC chief and the "betrayal" he had to face in return as the latter plotted his downfall when he went abroad for an operation. He also ridiculed the Congress for wanting to install a foreigner as the Prime Minister. He said: "Did the freedom fighters fight for this".

Shiromani Committee President Jagir Kaur lashing out at Mr Tohra, said she would bring irregularities committed by him to the notice of the Sikh Panth within three months. She alleged massive bungling had been committed during his tenure, with important Sikh institutions being made private properties of some individuals.

She said the people were grateful that Mr Tohra had been expelled from the party. She said by organising a rally here a clear message had gone across that the former SGPC chief did not enjoy the support of the people of the area.

Speaking on the occasion, former SGPC President Jagdev Singh Talwandi called upon the Chief Minister to ensure that the issue of more powers for states was included in the agenda of the National Democratic Alliance recently formed by the BJP and its allies. He said this was necessary to assure the people that the party had not forgotten its age-old demand and was willing to pursue it with the Centre.

Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh urged the people to give a crushing defeat to the Congress for destablising the government as well as pursuing an anti-Punjab policy.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Akali Dal Secretary-General Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cabinet ministers Raja Narinder Singh and Madan Mohan Mittal, Amloh legislator Balwant Singh Shahpur and former ministers Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal and Amrik Singh Aliwal.