No Promise Held Out On Commission’s Personnel

Ludhiana: The Prime Minister of India made a most categorical refutation of the Akali Dal charge that he had ever held out any promise to them or the mediators in respect of the personnel of the Commission, which he had offered to appoint to examine the Akali allegations of discrimination against the Sikhs.

From The Tribune archives

FROM OUR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

LUDHIANA! January 23.

The Prime Minister of India made a most categorical refutation of the Akali Dal charge that he had ever held out any promise to them or the mediators in respect of the personnel of the Commission, which he had offered to appoint to examine the Akali allegations of discrimination against the Sikhs.

Mr Nehru made this observation at four meetings, which he addressed in the Punjabi Region in connection with his Congress election tour. He repeatedly said that at no occasion had he made any promise with anyone, whether it were the Akali Dal leaders or those who acted as mediators on their behalf, who included Sardar H. S. Malik and the Maharaja of Patiala. He confessed that he felt unhappy to hear and read in the newspapers of the Akali charge. He regretted that they were accusing him and the Government of India of something which had never been promised to anyone.

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Continuing, the Prime Minister said that it almost shocked him to know the irresponsible manner in which an allegation of that kind had been repeatedly made which had absolutely no foundation. At Halwara near the aerodrome where he arrived after having flown from Delhi, then at Ludhiana; again at Nurmahal as also at Jullundar, the Prime Minister repeatedly said that he had written to Sardar H.S. Malik and the Maharaja of Patiala, enquiring from them if they knew anything of any such promise having been held out to them by anyone in the Government of India including himself. Both of them had communicated to him that no such promise with regard to the personnel of the proposed commission to look into the alleged grievances of the Akali Dal, regarding the so-called discrimination against the Sikhs, had been held out to them by any one. He was glad that both of them had told him of the correct position.

Read More: Punjab Assembly Elections — 1962

No Reply

He had, however, to be more sure, said the Prime Minister, written a number of letters to the Akali Dal leader, Sant Fateh Singh, to enquire from him if anyone had promised him that the personnel of the Commission would include the names suggested by the Akali Dal or Sant Fateh Singh or anyone of their supporters. Mr Nehru regretted to have to say that even though generally, Sant Fateyh Singh had on previous occasions, always replied to his letters rather quickly; in the matter of this enquiry, however, his communications to the Akali leader had remained unanswered despite the Prime Minister’s twice or thrice repeated attempts to get a reply from him.