Proxy voting for armed forces cleared
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 5 — The high-powered four-member group of secretaries has cleared the proposal for permitting the armed forces personnel to vote by proxy.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said here today that the clearance to the proposal by the group of secretaries had now paved the way for it to go to the Union Cabinet for clearance. For the purpose, a Cabinet note would be prepared.

The group of secretaries, comprising Defence Secretary Ajit Kumar, Home Secretary B. P. Singh, Legislative Affairs Secretary Raghubir Singh and Personnel Secretary Arvind Verma had been set up on August 27 last at the initiative of Defence Minister George Fernandes to go into the issue and give further suggestions.

The minister had expressed hope that the facility of proxy voting, as proposed by the Election Commission, would be available for the Armed Forces personnel for the forthcoming assembly elections in four states. The group of secretaries had also been entrusted with the task of preparing a draft legislative amendment for the purpose of permitting proxy voting.

Mr George Fernandes had earlier also written to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, for the introduction of proxy voting by making amendments in the Representation of People’s Act as the practice of postal ballot had not worked out satisfactorily.

He had noted in the letter that the system would fulfil the long-standing aspirations of defence personnel, specially in remote and non-family stations, to effectively participate in the electoral process.

Mr Fernandes had also brought to the notice of the Prime Minister that the three service chiefs had told him that the Armed Forces personnel should be allowed to vote by proxy at their native places by authorising any adult member of their respective families to vote on their behalf.

SGPC mediation questioned
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 5 — Efforts of Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president, SGPC, today received a setback when the Akal Federation questioned the authority of the committee to mediate between the Jathedars for an amicable solution to the stalemate. Bhai Narain Singh, president of the federation, said that the mediation effort by the SPGC was not as per Sikh tradition.

Bhai Narain Singh said that calling of the Jathedars of the Takhts for a rapprochement was an effort to denigrate the dignity of Takhts. He said that instead of calling the Jathedars for in-camera meetings, Mr Tohra should have met the Jathedars at their respective residences. He also criticised Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh for meeting Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Chief Minister, at his residence a few days back. Bhai Narain Singh said that differences between Jathedars should be solved at the instance of Akal Takht. He said that the matter should be discussed by the "Panch Pardhani" (as per Sikh traditions) which should be constituted by Akal Takht. He said that no other Sikh organisation, including the SGPC, had any right to form the "Panch Pardhani" other than Akal Takht. He said that in view of the ongoing controversy among the Jathedars, the situation had worsened which caused worry to the Sikh Panth. Lambasting Prof Manjit Singh, the Akal Federation chief said that he had tried to denigrate the Takhts by raising controversy over the "hukamnama" (edict) issued by the Akal Takht Jathedar on "Guru Ka Langar". He said that Prof Manjit Singh committed a "blunder" by rushing to the press and encouraged "anti-Akal Takht" forces to defy hukamnama by Canadian Sikhs. He also asked Prof Manjit Singh to submit accounts of the World Sikh Council as it belonged to the Sikh Panth. In an open letter to the Akal Takht chief, the Akal Federation said that any rapprochement should be brought as per the traditions of Akal Takht only and hence the suggestions put forth by the "anti-Panthic" elements should be ignored.

The federation urged the Akal Takht chief to summon Prof Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh at Akal Takht by the "Panch Pardhani" to be constituted by the Takht for raising issues by them. It may be mentioned here that earlier, the Akal Federation had criticised all Jathedars including Akal Takht chief for the controversy among them. He earlier had demanded that the "Panch Pardhani" should summon all warring Jathedars at Akal Takht for an amicable solution.

The federation has also urged Bhai Ranjit Singh to summon Mr Barjinder Singh, Managing Editor at Akal Takht for his "campaign" against Akal Takht.

Meanwhile, the Chief Khalsa Diwan has criticised the "warring" Jathedars as it has caused pain to the Sikhs. Mr Kirpal Singh, president, Chief Khalsa Diwan, in a written statement has said that differences among the Jathedars which had been made public with their allegations and counter-allegations against each other were "shameful". Especially at the time when the Sikhs were celebrating 300th birth anniversary of Sikh Panth.

In a statement, Chief Khalsa Diwan urged the SGPC to take all Sikh organisations into confidence before the installation of Jathedars of various Takhts. Mr Kirpal Singh said that the SGPC should revive the old Sikh traditions for the installation of Jathedars. With this persons of high stature could be installed as Jathedars.

Mr Kirpal Singh said that it was ironical that two World Sikh Councils were working simultaneously. Mr Kirpal Singh said that the SGPC should clarify which of the two councils was being patronised by the committee.

The Chief Khalsa Diwan, in another statement has said that Prof Manjit Singh had no moral right to stay as Jathedar of Sri Kesgarh Sahib till he gave satisfactory reply to rebut the allegations of embezzlements worth crores levelled by Bhai Ranjit Singh.