Five Punjab Ministers resign
By P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The crisis in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) took a new turn today when at least five ministers submitted their letters of resignation to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, late tonight.

The five, who are all loyalists of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, are Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mr Harmail Singh Tohra, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta — all Cabinet-rank ministers; Mr Inderjit Singh Zira and Mr Surjit Singh Kohli — both Ministers of State.

The resignations of the five, typed in Punjabi, were delivered at the residence of the Chief Minister, who is also President of the SAD through a security officer. The ministers had earlier met at the Sector 39 residence of Mr Harmail Singh, where the Akali MP, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, was also present.

The two-page letter of resignation refers to the statements of several ministers appearing in the press in which objectionable language and expressions had been used against Mr Gurcharan Singh, which they said was "condemnable and unfortunate". They said they had hoped that in the larger interest of the Panth and the state you as Chief Minister and party president would put a stop to such utterances. But nothing of the sort happened. So much so that statements hinting at dropping of ministers owing allegiance to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra were allowed to go unchallenged in the print media".

The letter continues, "The SAD had won the last election, for which the credit goes to you as well as the SGPC president. Soon thereafter there grew a feeling of despondency, frustration and anguish among party workers. To put its house in order and ring in a new spirit in the organisational wing and in the government the SGPC president made a policy statement by way of certain suggestions. The very next day, some clarifications to the statement were also given by Mr Gurcharan Singh. To accept or reject these was the prerogative of the party chief and the Chief Minister.

"Unfortunately rather than taking it in the right spirit the very next day some ministers made statements in the press indicative of lack of confidence and faith, and which also created divisions.

"In such an atmosphere it was not possible to continue as a minister hence the resignation, which may be accepted forthwith".

The letter ends on an optimistic note, wherein it is stated that the signatories were hopeful that "in the light of the historic mandate received in February 1997 elections and to strengthen unity in the Akali Dal you will meet with Mr Gurcharan Singh For one-to-one talks so that the crisis can blow over thus discharging your responsibilities towards the party and Punjab.

Mr Grewal was the Minister of Medical Education and Research, Mr Harmail Singh the PWD Minister and Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta was looking after Higher Education. Mr Inderjit Singh was the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Mr Kohli was in charge of Stationery and Printing, besides Housing and Urban Development.

When this correspondent met them at the residence of Mr Harmail Singh, they said in one voice that tomorrow they would meet the SGPC president and draw up their future strategy.

What prompted these ministers to quit the government is believed to be "feedback" received that some of the close associates of Mr Parkash Singh had egged him to confront Mr Tohra once and for all. Those who had the occasion to meet Mr Parkash Singh during the day said what had really piqued the Chief Minister was that Mr Gurcharan Singh had gone to the press with his views rather than airing them in private or at an appropriate forum within the party.

A second objection was that the statement had come at a time when the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa were approaching in April 1999. They felt that while in one breath Mr Gurcharan Singh praised Mr Parkash Singh to the skies, exalting him to the level of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, in the next breath he would deliberately embarrass him. Therefore the 'inner cabinet' of the Chief Minister decided to take the bull by the horns

Meanwhile, sources close to Mr Parkash Singh said the letters of resignation of five ministers will be sent to the Governor for acceptance tomorrow morning. This development has taken place when the Vidhan Sabha Session is just a week away.

Mr Parkash Singh's camp has moved swiftly following Mr Gurcharan Singh's outburst suggesting appointment of an acting president of the SAD with Mr Parkash Singh concentrating on running the government. In a quick move first Col Jasmer Singh Bala of the Panthic Vichar Manch was expelled from the party for anti-panthic activities (He was also a member of the SAD working committee). Today in one go the Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, Mr Vishwajeet Khanna, the District Transport Officer, Mr Navtej Singh and the district Public Relations Officer, Mr Megha Singh were removed. Mr Khanna has not been posted anywhere, and no DTO has been sent to Patiala.

On the surface at least it seems that the SAD is heading for a possible split sooner than expected. The ministers who quit today were perturbed that the SGPC president had been targeted the way he was by the Badal camp for simply making suggestions. On the other hand, Mr Parkash Singh is believed to have told his confidants that even he had never spoken out against Mr Gurcharan Singh and the SGPC so openly. It is another matter that the SGPC had deviated from its real role.

Tactical retreat by Tohra men

JALANDHAR, Dec 14 (UNI) — The loyalists of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra today made a tactical retreat in the current Akali strife by appealing to Chief Minister and Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal to appoint his "loyalist" to run the party set-up.

Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, SGPC executive committee member Surjit Singh Cheema and SGPC member Sarup Singh Dhesi and senior Akali leader Haripal Singh said since Mr Badal was not in a position to devote sufficient time to the party's organisational matters because of his (Badal) "governmental and political preoccupations" he (Badal) should appoint his "loyalist" to run the party to make its functioning effective.

They said since Mr Tohra has appointed SGPC senior vice-president Sukhdev Singh Bhaur as acting president of the SGPC to run its day-to-day affairs, Mr Badal, too, should appoint his "loyalist" to run the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Significantly, Mr Bhaur, who was present in the hotel where the Tohra loyalists addressed the press, did not join the press conference. Mr Bhaur remained confined to another room in the hotel, the party sources said.

The Akali sources said a meeting of the SGPC executive committee scheduled to be held at Amritsar on December 16, was likely to be a stormy affair.

Mr Tohra, who remained occupied with his confidant Prem Singh Chandumajra at Patiala yesterday, held closed-door parleys with other loyalists like SAD senior vice-president Surjan Singh Thekedar and Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, a minister in the Badal government, at Ludhiana last night. The meeting lasted nearly three hours and some more Tohra supporters, including Akali MLA Vikramjit Singh Khalsa, joined the meeting later, the sources added.

Mr Tohra was again closeted with Mr Thekedar and Mr Grewal in the latter's house in Ludhiana when the last report came in here.

Meanwhile, the local Tohra loyalists said workers meeting presided over by Mr Badal here yesterday should be an eye-opener for the Chief Minister.

Mr Cheema, Mr Dhesi and Mr Haripal Singh said resignation by party's Bhogpur circle jathedar Banta Singh Butter, who was a strong contender for the Akali ticket in the recent Adampur Assembly byelection, was "manifestation of disillusionment" among the Akali workers over the functioning of the party headed by Mr Badal.

The Tohra loyalists warned that "if no measures were taken to remove the disillusionment of the party workers, consequences could be serious for the party leadership".

They said Mr Tohra's statement in the December 12 interview was only his aim to strengthen the Akali Dal. The Tohra loyalists said whatever Mr Tohra said in his December 10 interview reflected the sentiments and thought of the party workers which were manifested openly in the meeting yesterday.

Launching a broadside against critics of Mr Tohra, his loyalists dubbed them as "sycophants" who, they alleged, were playing into the hands of an Editor of a Jalandhar daily.

The Tohra loyalists also accused the Editor of trying to create "religious and political divisions in the Sikh community" by daring to write against Akal Takht.

The Tohra loyalists said the Akali government, instead of seeking guidance from the Editor, should get it from the party workers. The party workers had made immense sacrifices in bringing the party to power in Punjab.

The Tohra loyalists said Jalandhar district (rural) unit was constituted in May, 1997 and since then Panchayat, Lok Sabha and Adampur byelection had been held but not a single meeting of the unit has been held in the past 20 months.

They alleged that corruption had become "all-pervasive" in total violation of the party election manifesto and the issue of corruption was brought under Mr Badal's focus by party workers at the meeting here yesterday.

FEROZEPORE (FOC): The president of the Punjab Vidyarthi Jathebandi (PVJ), Mr Jaswinder Singh Khun-Khun-Kalan has said that the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra has rightly demanded the resignation of Mr Parkash Singh Badal as president of the SAD as Mr Tohra has said this thing in view of sentiments of workers of the SAD.

Addressing members of the district unit of the PVJ, Mr Jaswinder Singh added that Mr Tohra always wanted to maintain faith of people in the SAD. He asked those Akali leaders and ministers making statements against Mr Tohra to think over his demand.

Meanwhile, state vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Mr Jagdeep Rai Kantore, said that the BJYM was fully backing Mr Badal. He asked Mr Tohra to stop propaganda against Mr Badal.

AMRITSAR (TNS): Mr Puran Singh Josh, a senior member of the SGPC has sought dismissal of Mr G.S. Tohra, president of the committee for indulging in the misuse of committee funds.

Mr Josh said that Mr Tohra wanted to become the Chief Minister of the state by destabilising the present Badal government. Mr Josh who has been wearing black clothes as protest since the re-election of Mr Tohra as president of the SGPC alleged that Mr Tohra had stabbed in the back of "Panth" by demanding the resignation of Mr Badal as president of the SAD.

Dr Rattan Singh, Minister Animal Husbandry, also deplored Mr Tohra for demanding the resignation of Mr Badal as president of the SAD. He suggested Mr Tohra to confine himself to religious affairs and not indulge in politics.

LUDHIANA: With battle lines between Punjab Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president, Parkash Singh Badal and the SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra drawn the district Akali Jatha (Rural) met here today under the presidentship of Jathedar Daya Singh and condemned Mr Tohra's statement asking Mr Badal to quit as the SAD president. It said the move was to weaken the Panthic government of the Akalis.

The meeting was also attended by Jathedar Ram Singh, Jathedar Akhtiar Singh, Jathedar Iqbal Singh, Jathedar Sukhdev Singh, Jathedar Gagan Prakash Singh, Jathedar Gurmel Singh, Jathedar Jagroop Singh Bawa, Jathedar Kulwant Singh Khanna, Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Rekhi and Jathedar Kirpal Singh.

The meeting decided that Mr Tohra be asked to concern himself with the functioning of the SGPC and work for removing all corruption in this organisation.

The Akali leaders expressed confidence in Mr Badal's leadership and praised his government. The meeting was also addressed by Dr Jarnail Singh, Mr Man Singh, Mr Harbans Singh, Jathedar Surjeet Singh and Jathedar Jaswant Singh..

Meanwhile, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra held a closed door meeting with his loyalists here today. The meeting which lasted for two hours, was attended by Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mr Harmel Singh Tohra, Thekedar Surjan Singh, Mr Hira Singh Gabria and a few SGPC members. The meeting discussed future strategy to be adopted by the Tohra camp in dealing with the current crisis in the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Earlier Mr Tohra had held a separate meeting with Thekedar Surjan Singh and Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal in the morning also.

Badal supporters seek Tohra's sack
By Gobind Thukral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Will Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the president of the Akali Dal, this time assert and throw out the SGPC president, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, from the Dal? Mr Tohra had publicly asked Mr Badal to quit the presidentship of the Dal and concentrate on the government, whose performance he finds much below the mark. The supporters of Mr Badal have reacted sharply and demanded the ouster of Mr Tohra and also a probe into the misappropriation of funds of the SGPC.

But this question is increasingly being asked by Minister, MLAs, district Presidents and by many SGPC members. Mr Badal has not given any direct indication to his confidants. But everyone whosoever he may be in his close circle, asserts that Mr Badal will go for the kill. They also say that Mr Badal does not normally pick up a fight, but once he does, he takes it to a logical conclusion.

What does Mr Badal feel about the whole affair. In plain words he is very sad. He would not react to queries from TNS in a straight manner. "You know everything. Why ask me? I wish Punjab and its people good. I wish the Akali Dal and the Government good. I am striving hard to help that . If some leaders feel differently, they could bring it to party platforms and discuss. I did not expect this from a senior colleague like Mr Tohra to publicly demand my resignation from the Dal presidentship". This is all Mr Badal would say. For all other questions how would he deal with the situation particularly when a very large number of MLAs and district Presidents have urged him to being disciplined and deal with Mr Tohra firmly. he sand: "It is not proper for me say anything.".

But insiders revealed that a clear gameplan to counter Mr Tohra and his onslaught had been worked out. There would be consistent attack on Mr Tohra by district Jathedars, MLAs and Ministers, but more importantly, the SGPC members who are now lining up to support Mr Badal and demand the removal of Mr Tohra.

According to Akali Dal sources, Mr Badal has the support of the majority of members in the 185 strong general house. Each member is in touch with the leaders of the Badal faction. Very shortly, this majority would be demonstrated and resignation sought. Already 35 members have demanded the resignation of Mr Tohra. Once Mr Tohra has lost that position, he has lost the battle, if not the war is the assessment of many observers here.

But there is a problem, a technical one. The SGPC general house which met only in November needs notice of 90 days for the reassembly for such a purpose and this may give a big breather to Mr Tohra. Some argue that once the demand for the expulsion of Mr Tohra gathers momentum, Mr Badal will suspend Mr Tohra and serve him a show-cause notice. The rest will be a mere formality. Once he is out of the Akali Dal, his position will become vulnerable as SGPC President.

Will this be possible? The answer is yes as far as Mr Badal's supporters are concerned. Mr Badal is the Chief Minister and the levers of power are in his hands. He is the Akali Dal President, a position rarely held in Akali politics, and can assert very well and then he has the majority of the SGPC members with him. "I have always avoided interfering or guiding the SGPC and left it to Mr Tohra. I do not comment on its affairs", Mr Badal told TNS. But how come the SGPC president whom he went out of the way to oblige and accommodate could go to this extent? This would weaken the Akali Dal and harm the interest of the Dal-led Government. "I do not know why our friend does all that", Mr Badal said.

The Badal faction is planning to deal with Mr Tohra and his supporters at another level also. Mr Badal had left the administration and its informal control of two districts of Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib in the hands of Mr Tohra and accommodated his supporters at all levels in Punjab. Those who do not fall in line, will have to opt out. The administration now has a different message. The levers of power and level of command which Mr Tohra enjoyed will not be there now.

In fact, the Government today shifted Patiala Deputy Commissioner, Mr Vishwajit Khanna and District Transport Officer besides the District Public Relations Officer to send across this message.

Those who have been sitting on the fence, trying to mellow down the fight, have been told to make their positions clear. Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister, and Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, MLA from Shatrana, were two such leaders. Mr Hari Singh Gabrian, MLA and Ludhiana district President has already switched loyalties and is now with Mr Badal, sources here said. The Badal camp asserted that Mr Tohra has no more than half a dozen MLAs, including ministers with him. The Tohra camp, however, asserts that it has at least 13 MLAs and also majority in the general house of the SGPC. "It will be no joke to oust the old guard Jathedar from the SGPC which he has commanded for 27 long years" one leader said.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha member Prem Singh Chandumajra, a close associate of Mr Tohra, today tried to fix a meeting with Mr Badal. It is not known what response he got. He may try to meet and sort out the issue. But chance of any rapprochement as of today are very bleak.

PATIALA: Akali Dal (Badal) Working Committee member Jathedar Manmohan Singh Bajaj. Punjab Woman Commission chairperson Surinder Kaur Grewal, legislator Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur and other leaders of the district today criticised SGPC president GS Tohra, some even demanding his resignation from both the SGPC and the Rajya Sabha.

In a statement here, Mr Bajaj and other members of the district (urban) jatha of the Akali Dal said all party workers were behind the Chief Minister and any attempts to challenge his leadership would not be tolerated.

The chairperson of the Punjab Women Commission Surinder Kaur Grewal and the chairperson of the Punjab State Social Welfare Advisory Board. Gurdial Kaur in a statement said the Chief Minister was the undispurted leader of the Punjabis.

They asked the SGPC chief to restrict himself to religious matters and desist from interfering in political matters concerning the Akali Dal. Both chairpersons appealed to Mr Tohra to set right his own house first before criticising others.

In a joint statement here Ajaib Singh Mukhmalpura, MLA, Joginder Singh Punjrath member SGPC and Mohinder Singh Lalwa member Zila Parishad alleged that Mr Tohra had failed to provide proper administration in the SGPC. They accused Mr Tohra of corruption and demanded a vigilance probe into various irregularities committed by him.

KAPURTHALA: In a joint statement here today Mr Raghbir Singh Transport Minister and president of Akali Jatha (Badal) Mrs Jagir Kaur Lubana Tourism Minister and Dr Upinderjit Kaur Technical Education Minister, Major Jiwan Singh Bhandal, Mr Jaimal Singh and Ms Bhajan Kaur Dogranwala all members of the SGPC have criticised Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra president SGPC for his statement asking Mr Badal to resign from the post of president of Akali Dal (Badal). They termed the statement irresponsible.