The
initiative launched by Shiromani Akali Dal President and Deputy Chief Minister
Sukhbir Singh Badal to seek rapprochement with the radical Sikh groups abroad
seems to have backfired with the response being contrary to the expectations. Presently,
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Manjit Singh GK is leading an
11-member delegation to UK and UAE for this purpose.
Dal Khalsa leader in London Manmohan Singh had said
yesterday that a Sarbat Khalsa should be convened at Akal Takht and
they should be allowed a free passage on the issue of the goal of the Sikhs
which was Khalistan during the armed struggle. He had said his organisation
would accept the decision taken at that conclave.
Today, his organisation in India while summarily rejecting
the move engineered by Shiromani Akali Dal to facilitate the return of
hardliner Sikhs living abroad, made it clear homecoming had never
been a big issue for Sikhs in exile. It may be mentioned that leaders like
Manmohan Singh have not taken British citizenship and he claimed he was having
a UN passport and hence was a citizen of the world.
Lambasting Sukhbir and his father and Chief Minister Parkash
Singh Badal for sponsoring the visit of DSGMC delegation to
“influence the diehard Sikhs”, Dal Khalsa chief H S Dhami said, "The
silence of guns and electoral success of Badal does not indicate that Sikh
masses have abandoned the goal of Khalistan".
He said the delegation had met representatives from Damdami
Taksal, Dal Khalsa, Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Sikh Federation. All these
organizations were based in Punjab and their leadership was very much active on
the ground. He wondered what was the fun in reaching out to "separatists
in UK", when their leadership could be contacted in Punjab.
Taking a jibe at Badals, he said they had taken up the very
sensitive issue with non-serious approach, thereby reducing it to mere public
relation exercise. "Badals have attempted to play to the gallery, trying
to leave false impression that they care for the Sikhs abroad”, he
added.
Dhami expressed strong objection to the statement of DSGMC
head who had sought amnesty for exiled Sikhs saying these Sikhs did not need
amnesty from the government as they had done no wrong.
The Dal Khalsa, which has been striving for Punjab’s
sovereignty through political and peaceful means for the past 15 years, said,
"Our UK chapter representative Manmohan Singh has respectfully but firmly
told the visiting delegation that the desire for independence in Sikh Diaspora remains
widespread and irrepressible."
Senior Dal Khalsa functionary Kanwarpal Singh said,
"Instead of thinking in terms of rehabilitating the Khalistanis, the
Indian government should focus on resolving all vexed issues that gave birth to
militancy in the state in early 80’s".
Both the leaders demanded that the government at the centre must open dialogue with pro-independence Sikh groups as that was the only recourse to find lasting solution to Punjab problem.
Both the leaders demanded that the government at the centre must open dialogue with pro-independence Sikh groups as that was the only recourse to find lasting solution to Punjab problem.
Sukhbir maintains good relationship with Damdami Taksal
chief Harnam Singh Dhumma who was also invited to the meeting of the Akali Dal
delegates earlier this month to re-elect Sukhbir as the party President. In
London, the delegation had also talked to those associated with Taksal.
Sukhbir's initiative to seek rapprochement with radicals backfires
By Jagtar Singh-
CHANDIGARH: The
initiative launched by Shiromani Akali Dal President and Deputy Chief Minister
Sukhbir Singh Badal to seek rapprochement with the radical Sikh groups abroad
seems to have backfired with the response being contrary to the expectations. Presently,
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Manjit Singh GK is leading an
11-member delegation to UK and UAE for this purpose.
Dal Khalsa leader in London Manmohan Singh had said
yesterday that a Sarbat Khalsa should be convened at Akal Takht and
they should be allowed a free passage on the issue of the goal of the Sikhs
which was Khalistan during the armed struggle. He had said his organisation
would accept the decision taken at that conclave.
Today, his organisation in India while summarily rejecting
the move engineered by Shiromani Akali Dal to facilitate the return of
hardliner Sikhs living abroad, made it clear homecoming had never
been a big issue for Sikhs in exile. It may be mentioned that leaders like
Manmohan Singh have not taken British citizenship and he claimed he was having
a UN passport and hence was a citizen of the world.
Lambasting Sukhbir and his father and Chief Minister Parkash
Singh Badal for sponsoring the visit of DSGMC delegation to
“influence the diehard Sikhs”, Dal Khalsa chief H S Dhami said, "The
silence of guns and electoral success of Badal does not indicate that Sikh
masses have abandoned the goal of Khalistan".
He said the delegation had met representatives from Damdami
Taksal, Dal Khalsa, Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Sikh Federation. All these
organizations were based in Punjab and their leadership was very much active on
the ground. He wondered what was the fun in reaching out to "separatists
in UK", when their leadership could be contacted in Punjab.
Taking a jibe at Badals, he said they had taken up the very
sensitive issue with non-serious approach, thereby reducing it to mere public
relation exercise. "Badals have attempted to play to the gallery, trying
to leave false impression that they care for the Sikhs abroad”, he
added.
Dhami expressed strong objection to the statement of DSGMC
head who had sought amnesty for exiled Sikhs saying these Sikhs did not need
amnesty from the government as they had done no wrong.
The Dal Khalsa, which has been striving for Punjab’s
sovereignty through political and peaceful means for the past 15 years, said,
"Our UK chapter representative Manmohan Singh has respectfully but firmly
told the visiting delegation that the desire for independence in Sikh Diaspora remains
widespread and irrepressible."
Senior Dal Khalsa functionary Kanwarpal Singh said,
"Instead of thinking in terms of rehabilitating the Khalistanis, the
Indian government should focus on resolving all vexed issues that gave birth to
militancy in the state in early 80’s". Both the leaders demanded that the
government at the centre must open dialogue with pro-independence Sikh groups
as that was the only recourse to find lasting solution to Punjab problem.
Sukhbir maintains good relationship with Damdami Taksal
chief Harnam Singh Dhumma who was also invited to the meeting of the Akali Dal
delegates earlier this month to re-elect Sukhbir as the party President. In
London, the delegation had also talked to those associated with Taksal.
