Daduwal strikes discordant note

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 12

Parallel Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Baljit Singh Daduwal today said he would not attend the December 20 meeting called by parallel acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Dhian Singh Mand.

“There was no point of attending the meeting till Mand changes his dictatorial attitude. I have no doubts or complaints about the achievements of the Bargari Morcha, but everyone who was associated with it for the past six months should have been taken into confidence before calling it off. This hasty decision has nullified our efforts,” he said.

Terming Mand’s call for lifting the morcha as an “autocratic and premature step”, Daduwal said till the time culprits behind sacrilege and police firing incidents were taken to task legally, the dharna should have been continued.

Parallel Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib Amrik Singh Ajnala too said the government representatives had approached the morcha organisers only for a dialogue, but Mand had its own designs.

“I had taken active part during the first three months of morcha, but later had to withdraw after I failed to understand what was cooking up in Mand’s camp. There was no point in wasting time, money and energy of the sangat if the morcha was to be called off on government’s assurance,” he said.

Mand, meanwhile, said: “There must be some misunderstanding. If they had any grudge, I would approach both of them personally to resolve the differences. I need their support at every step. Their presence in Fatehgarh Sahib meeting means a lot.”

Meanwhile, Kanwar Pal Singh Bittu, spokesperson, Dal Khalsa, which actively supported the morcha, said: "We played our role sincerely and remained part of the agitation, but when Mand has ended it, we are free to pursue our own path without seeking to garner the limelight."