Tohra served with notice
District jathedars back action
By P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 17 — The Shiromani Akali Dal Disciplinary Action Committee today served a show-cause notice on the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, asking him to explain within 15 days why action should not be taken against him.

This is neither an isolated or an unexpected development in the on-going drama in Akali politics. But this fits into a pattern woven as part of a "strategy" drawn up by the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, in consultation with the district Jathedars at a meeting he had held at his residence here on December 11.

The belligerent attitude adopted by the SAD chief against the SGPC President, thus, is a consequence of a well worked-out strategy, where the party President was clearly told that they were solidly behind him, provided he took an equally strong stand and a stance against Mr Gurcharan Singh.

The strategy has three key components: strongly handling the SGPC chief with the aim "now or never"; fighting "corruption" within the SAD and the government; and the district Jathedars, of whom at least six are Ministers; suggesting the President seek resignations of the members of the Council of Ministers and constitute a "compact Cabinet" to run the government.

They were unanimous that it is time to ensure and enforce "discipline" in the party, which had earned a bad name and a reputation owing to perceived feeling of neglect in the rank and file and due to unresponsive bureaucracy.

Thus the issuance of the show-cause notice to Mr Gurcharan Singh by the SAD Disciplinary Action Committee, headed Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, has to be seen and understood in the context of the strategy chalked out after the SGPC President had openly demanded that Mr Parkash Singh step down as party chief. The tirade against him continues despite some clarifications issued by him soon thereafter.

The simultaneous holding of a meeting of district SAD units (including state representatives of Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi) in a room adjoining to the one where the disciplinary committee members met in Punjab Bhavan today, is again a part of the well-oiled blitzkrieg against the SGPC chief. Out of 26 field jathedars today’s meeting was attended by 21. Those who did not turn up for the meeting, convened by the SAD Secretary-General, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, MP, (he is also member of the disciplinary committee of the party) owe allegiance to the SGPC President.

Those jathedars are Mr Pardip Singh Walia (Amritsar-city), Mr Hira Singh Gabria (Ludhiana-city), Mr Rajinder Singh Tohra and Mr Surjit Singh Kohli (Patiala-rural and urban, respectively) and Mr Swaran Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib).

As was expected, the disciplinary committee members issued a 15-day show-cause notice to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, seeking his explanation as to why action should not be initiated against him. It is, however, a foregone conclusion that he will be expelled from the SAD and later removed from the SGPC presidentship. Mr Jagdev Singh himself described today’s action of the committee as part of "procedural formalities" as laid down in the SAD’s constitution. He has already condemned Mr Tohra.

The other members of the disciplinary committee are Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP, and Mr Tota Singh and Mr Gurdev Singh Badal, both ministers. The latter, however, could not attend due to prior engagements. Hs is reported to have informed Mr Jagdev Singh of his agreement with whatever decision the committee took.

Surprisingly, the mood at the meeting of the district Jathedars was strident. They did not speak much but informed Mr Dhindsa, as part of the pre-planned strategy, that they all were unanimous that the "strongest" possible action should be taken against the SGPC chief, going by his conduct in the past.

The resolution, circulated by Punjab Government's media adviser to the waiting newsmen was on the same lines as have been the fusillade fired earlier by several ministers against Mr Tohra. The tone and tenor of the resolution also resembled the one used in the statement released on Wednesday by 10 of the 15 SGPC executives members, who had assembled in Punjab Bhavan. The disciplinary committee also expressed deep "concern" and "condemned" the utterances of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra against the SAD and its coalition partner, the BJP, and their respective leadership.

The committee maintained that "enough is enough" and discipline applied equally to the leaders as well as the workers. There could be no compromise. Though a 15-day time for reply has been given the committee did not spell out what action it contemplates thereafter. However, today's show-cause notice was intended to serve as a "warning signal" to the rest of the party rank and file and other "ambitious" leaders that indiscipline would not be tolerated. Anyone going to the media to air his or her views on policy and party matters would be taken to task in the same way, the committee said.

The jathedars, today dubbed Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra in the same view and regretted that his attempts to "sabotage" the government and the party had become for him more of a rule than an exception, all the time. His repeated embarrassment to the party and the government on the eve of the tercentenary celebrations was all the more unpardonable, which tantamount to spoiling the atmosphere in the state, which casts a dark shadow on the party as well as the government.

A cross section of the district Jathedars, including Ministers who are also district Jathedars, told TNS that the party president this time had decided not to keep a "low profile" and continue to tolerate the indiscipline. "He has accommodated the SGPC chief enough without ever interfering in his work". Some of the district Jathedars, despite showing a streak of sympathy for the manner in which Mr Gurcharan Singh is being sought to be "humiliated and humbled", nevertheless pointed out that they had told the SAD President that as Chief Minister he should show his mettle now in running the administration. His silence should not be misconstrued as his weakness.

"Corruption", a large number of them said would be the next target. A complete "revamp" of the bureaucracy was on the cards. As a consequence of this feud between the two Presidents, one of them said, would give ample "relief" to Mr Parkash Singh because he would no longer be obliged to "accommodate" Mr Tohra's men in the administration, both civil and police officers.

The district Jathedars would "expose" ministers as well as officers known to indulge in corrupt practices bringing bad name and reputation to the party and the government. All along the emphasis would be on governance.

The common refrain was that rapprochement was beyond scope, as there was no individual who could match the two presidents, who had clearly drawn the battle lines.

Tohra hardens stand, not to resign
From Surinder Bhardwaj

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Dec 17 — Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC chief, talking to mediapersons here today, said he would submit his reply to a show-cause notice whenever he received one. He said followers of the Badal camp were bent upon humiliating him. He would not resign now, even if Mr Parkash Singh Badal directed him to do so.

He said a newspaper which had become a leading paper in the state because of "our efforts, is now spearheading a campaign against me." He said five of his supporters had not resigned from the ministry to topple the government, but to register protest against the "derogatory" language used against him.

He said he had achieved his mission in so far as due recognition to SGPC members and party workers by the bureaucracy was concerned.

Mr Tohra was here to attend the oath ceremony of Mr Narinder Singh Tiwana as chairman of the Market Committee, Sirhind.

Earlier, the Tohra camp held a meeting and passed a resolution requesting the Akal Takht Jathedar, Bhai Ranjit Singh, to mediate. The meeting urged all party MLAs, MPs, district Jathedars and SGPC members to play a "constructive" role in bringing about unity among party workers.

Addressing a gathering, Mr Tohra said news reports and statements by various leaders that he had met Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet and Mr Buta Singh were "baseless". He clarified again that he had only asked Mr Parkash Singh Badal to appoint an acting president and not sought his resignation. He said Mr Badal had not restrained his supporters from using "derogatory" remarks against him.

He said he would continue to raise public interest issues and hoped that the Akali government would complete its term.

Mr Kirpal Singh Libra, Chairman, Punsup, Mr Harmel Singh Tohra, former minister, Mr Swaran Singh Chanarthal, district president, Mr Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Mr Jaswant Singh Tohra, members of the SGPC, Mr Paramjeet Saholi, president, youth wing, Patiala, Jathedar Amar Singh Nalini, Mr Rajinder Singh Tohra, district Jathedar, Patiala, Mr Karnail Singh Panjoli, Youth Akali Dal, also addressed the gathering.

Put off tussle till April 13, says Takht chief
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Dec 17 — Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, last night met Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh separately at his residence to present their respective views on the ongoing tussle between the two senior SAD leaders. The takht chief talking to reporters here today hinted that both senior leaders were in a mood to fight it out. As he gathered from their talks with him. Although, his offer to mediate between Mr Badal and Mr Tohra to defuse the crisis and bring about a rapprochement stood but felt that there was difference of perception of the situation as presented by them to him during talks.

Bhai Ranjit Singh cautioned the leaders that if infighting continued it would harm interests of Sikhs, Punjab and the whole country and it could cause immense damage to the 'Panth'. People who had voted the Akalis to power would lose faith in their leadership.

The Jathedar appealed to both senior leaders of party to sink their differences at least till April next year and let tercentenary celebrations "Khalsa Panth" go ahead without hurdle.

Bhai Ranjit Singh opined that it was very necessary that they sorted out their problems in a atmosphere of cordiality and goodwill for the sake of 'Panth'.

Bhai Ranjit Singh said "If any incident affecting the Panth and the Sikhs takes place, Akal Takht cannot ignore it."

Tohra camp decides to lie low
From A.S. Prashar
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 17 — The Tohra group in the Shiromani Akali Dal has decided to lie low in the face of a determined onslaught by the Badal camp.

Informed sources in the Tohra camp said here today that the SGPC chief did not propose to retaliate in any manner. As a matter of fact, his attempt was to maintain unity in the party at any cost so that he was not accused of having destabilised the Panthic government in the state.

The sources believe that the present offensive launched by the Badal camp in response to an "innocuous" suggestion by Mr Tohra for a change in the leadership of the Akali Dal in the wake of the electoral debacle in Adampur was actually designed to divert public attention from the real issue of bad governance by Mr Parkash Singh, frustration in the rank and file of the Akali Dal and alienation among the people, was amply proved by the result of the Adampur byelection.

The debilitating financial crisis which has driven Punjab to the brink of bankruptcy was another issue which is sought to be swept under the carpet by the Badal camp through unremitting criticism of Mr Tohra.

The sources say that a clear indication of the diminishing clout of the Badal government and the disenchantment, even among industrialists, was clearly visible when some of the owners of some of the top industrial houses of Ludhiana were in attendance at a get-together organised by the Punjab PCC chief, Capt Amarinder Singh last week.

However, sources in the Badal camp here allege that a driving ambition on the part of Mr Tohra to be the next Chief Minister lies at the root of the current Badal-Tohra feud in state.

Mr Tohra has tried repeatedly to humble Mr Badal in the past in the struggle for supremacy in Akali politics, but failed every time. This time too, the result will not be any different, they say.

Perhaps for the first time in his long and eventful political career, the SGPC chief appears to have bitten more than he can chew although heading the supreme Sikh religious body. The SGPC, for the past 25 years, which is a feat in itself, Mr Tohra has been routinely dabbling in politics. Even though he belongs to the party in power in Punjab in alliance with the BJP, he has seldom missed an opportunity to embarrass the Chief Minister and queer the pitch for his government. Mr Tohra has been able to get away with it so far largely because Mr Badal is a patient man and did not want to rock the boat for his government. On his part, Mr Badal has been more than indulgent to his party colleague, doing his bidding at every opportunity. The Chief Minister is reported to have told his confidants that he has been doing all the postings and transfers in some of the districts at the say-so of Mr Tohra with the result that a number of people started approaching Mr Tohra rather than Mr Badal even for routine administrative matters. Mr Tohra had also been more than amply accommodated by way of representation to his supporters in the Council of Ministers.

But Mr Tohra apparently touched a raw nerve in Mr Badal when he called for his replacement for running the party. Although Mr Tohra did not say so, senior Akali Dal sources here insist that the SGPC chief wanted himself to be appointed as the Dal president. The current offensive against Mr Tohra by the Badal camp has been preceded by a cool assessment of the relative strength of the two groups. The Badal group dominates in the government. In the party as well as the SGPC as he has been amply demonstrated to a flustered Mr Tohra in recent days.

On the wrong side of 70, the sources say, Mr Tohra realises that the age is not on his side, and this may be his last chance to occupy the chief ministerial gaddi. The next Assembly election, which are still more than three years away, may throw up unpredictable results. Hence, his constant needling of the Chief Minister so as to weaken and dethrone Mr Badal in the long run.

Strategy to weaken Tohra
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 17 — As the ongoing tussle between the Badal camp and the Tohra faction heads towards a point of no return, the Badal camp has put into operation a multi-pronged strategy to politically weaken the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, especially on his home turf in Patiala belt comprising Ropar, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib districts.

This has become evident from the manner in which the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has made administrative changes in these districts during the past two days, shifting all the pro-Tohra officers from important postings. While in the first instalment IAS and PCS officers were shifted, in the second instalment senior police officers were replaced.

Sources said that as part of the strategy the influence of Mr Tohra in these districts had been almost wiped out by effecting these transfers. But in the days to come other officers who were posted in these districts at Mr Tohra's recommendation, would also be shifted. The number of such officers was quite large. It may be mentioned that for district-level postings in almost all the government departments in these districts prior recommendation of Mr Tohra was a must before the Tohra-Badal feud erupted.

Sources said that the Badal camp had strengthened the hands of Capt Kanwaljit Singh in these districts by appointing certain officers of his choice on important postings. Capt Kanwaljit Singh had already emerged as a "front man" of the Badal camp in the ongoing full-blooded attack against Mr Tohra.

Party sources said that now the writ of only Capt Kanwaljit Singh ran in these districts where earlier the SGPC chief used to call the shots.

There is a reason for strengthening the position of Capt Kanwaljit Singh in these districts. His main area of political operation is also Patiala belt. Secondly, he is known as one of most vocal critics of Mr Tohra in the Badal camp. It is well known that Mr Tohra and Capt Kanwaljit Singh were never on good terms.

Sources said that with the help of all concerned, Capt Kanwaljit Singh had been told to wean away all the important supporters of Mr Tohra in the Patiala belt to dent his support-base and to politically demoralise him. Another supporter of Tohra, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, is also a political adversary of Capt Kanwaljit Singh. They have often exchanged hot words at party meetings in the past.

In fact, Mr Badal had earlier made an attempt to increase his influence in Patiala belt. He had brought back the leaders like Mr Charanjit Singh Walia and Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar in the party fold and had given them important party postings. But following a patch-up between Mr Badal and Mr Tohra before the Vidhan Sabha elections, Mr Badal had stopped interfering in these districts.

Now Mr Tohra would have to fight on two fronts. He is already at the receiving end within the party. The Punjab Pradesh Congress President, Capt Amarinder Singh, is also a sworn enemy of Mr Tohra and he would also like to utilise this opportunity to decimate the SGPC chief in the Patiala belt. Capt Amarinder Singh also hails from Patiala city and misses no opportunity to strike at Mr Tohra.

PM, Advani offer to mediate
By Gobind Thukral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 17 — Both the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and the Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, have urged the two warring Akali leaders, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra to end the war and maintain unity in the Dal.

The leaders, however, made it clear that theirs was only a friendly advice and they did not wish to interfere.

According to informed sources, the two central leaders have made anxious enquires from official sources to understand the situation. After this the Prime Minister spoke to the Chief Minister twice and to the SGPC President once. At the same time, Mr Advani too was in touch with the feuding leaders. Earlier, both Mr Badal and Mr Tohra on their own talked to the senior BJP leaders.

Sources here said that the BJP leaders offered their good offices if that could help to bring them together. One point on which the two leaders stressed was that their infighting, which was now leading the Akali Dal to a vertical split, would only benefit the Congress. The party, just a ramshackle unit some months back, was on the comeback trail. It had won a crucial assembly bypoll from Adampur. A split in the Akali Dal might also harm the Akali-BJP alliance. Much more than this, the BJP-led Central Government, surviving on a thin majority, would not like even one Lok Sabha member to leave the alliance at the Centre. At present, the only Lok Sabha member who had sided with the Tohra camp was, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra. Mr Tohra himself was a Rajya Sabha member.

The BJP, which had taken Mr Tohra's harsh criticism for the past several months in its stride, still felt that the two leaders should not fall apart, sources here said.

Mr Badal's response was that the present crisis which had pained him was not of his making. He had been forced into a situation and it might be difficult to call a ceasefire at this stage. Mr Tohra had demanded his resignation, sharply criticised his Government and Ministers loyal to Mr Tohra had quit. Mr Badal also provided details about what the real position was. Mr Tohra is said to have blamed Mr Badal the same way.

It is not clear whether the two have given any indication of accepting any third party mediation at this stage. "Since the two leaders made only an impassioned appeal, there was no need to react that way", one senior minister here said. It was also stated that local BJP Ministers, Mr Madan Mohan Mittal and Mr Balramji Das Tandon, too had met Mr Badal and shown concern at the developments. Both did not find any threat to the Badal Government. But one BJP Rajya Sabha member, Mr Lajpat Rai, had offered his party's services to sort out the issues. At present the BJP was keeping equi-distance in the factional war. But clearly, the party had no love lost for Mr Tohra who had been very critical of the BJP. They took Mr Badal to be their natural ally and not Mr Tohra. The Punjab BJP leaders had also been discussing the fallout of the fight on the functioning of the Government and peace in the State.

Meanwhile, the Union Food and Supply Minister, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala has been contacted by both sides. Some leaders from the Tohra faction also contacted Mrs Surjit Kaur Barnala, the Central Minister's wife to side with Mr Tohra. Mr Barnala said that most of his supporters had already sided with the Badal group. The Badal faction claimed that Mr Barnala was clearly with the Chief Minister.

Calcutta adopts conciliatory tone
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Dec 17 — During a meeting of MLAs, MPs and ministers presided over by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, here today, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, a Tohra loyalist who resigned from the Badal ministry this week, was seen talking to Mr Badal in a conciliatory tone.

Mr Calcutta personally invited Mr Badal to attend his son's 'shagun' ceremony here tomorrow. Mr Badal, while talking to the press, said he would remain in the city so that he did not miss the ceremony due to the dense fog.

When Mr Calcutta described himself as his Mr Badal's "own man", Mr Badal quipped: "Then why don't you withdraw your resignation."

Interestingly, Mr Badal and Mr Tohra will both be present at the "shagun" ceremony of Mr Calcutta's son here tomorrow.

Talking to mediapersons, Calcutta, who recently resigned along with four of his colleagues from the Badal Cabinet, said there was hope for a reconciliation between the Chief Minister and the SGPC chief provided the former restrained his supporters from "hurling allegations" at Mr Tohra.

He said they should also be reprimanded to pave the way for a meeting between the stalwarts for discussing the issues which had caused the present crisis in the party.

Mr Calcutta said the Finance Minister Kanwaljit Singh had no right to demand the resignation of Mr Tohra from the presidentship of the SGPC at the "so-called meeting of the executive members" at Chandigarh yesterday.

He suggested to the Finance Minister not to "meddle" in the affair of the SGPC but to manage the finances of the state "effectively". Mr Calcutta said the SGPC would not tolerate government interference in the religious affairs of the Sikhs.

The former Higher Education Minister answering queries said Mr Tohra had only echoed grievances voiced by thousands of party workers who felt ignored by the leadership.

Chandumajra flays notice to Tohra
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 17 — Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, MP, today termed as “unfortunate” the issuance of a show cause notice to the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

In a statement here today, Mr Chandumajra said it was the duty of Mr Parkash Singh Badal who is the head of the SAD, to “resolve the crisis in the party”.

The crisis would not only affect the SAD but also cast its shadow on Punjab and the country’s politics.

Mr Chandumajra, who resigned as the general secretary of the SAD earlier this week, said people of Punjab had reposed full faith in the SAD under the united leadership of both Mr Badal and Mr Tohra.

He said the current crisis was the result of a conspiracy to destabilise the party and the state and suggested that it was up to the Chief Minister to resolve it.

Meanwhile, 37 of the 49 members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today suggested that the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, should intervene and resolve the dispute.

They said the SAD could ill-afford the differences between two seniormost leaders of the party and it was time that the Akal Takht chief stepped in.

The members were also critical of the moves by some members of the Delhi unit of the SAD during this crisis, stating that these people were attempting to extend the impact of the crisis to Delhi.

The DSGMC members who took part in the meeting included its president, Mr Jaswant Singh Sethi, Mr Harinder Pal Singh, Mr Avtar Singh Autopin, Chaudhary Basant Singh, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, Mr Joginder Singh, Headmaster Sucha Singh and Mr Bhajan Walia, general secretary of the DSGMC among others.