M A I N   N E W S

Tohra untrustworthy: Talwandi
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The newly elected President of the SGPC, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, today fired a salvo against Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who was the first to greet him on his becoming the SGPC chief. Mr Talwandi dubbed him “untrustworthy” and ruled out any unity of the Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD) with his outfit, the Sarab Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD).

Talking to The Tribune at the official residence of the Chief Minister here, Mr Talwandi said that neither he nor the SAD President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, were averse to Panthic unity but experience showed that Mr Tohra had no principles. Mr Tohra was a leader with a destructive nature and had caused immense damage to the SAD. Mr Badal gave due regard to Mr Tohra after the formation of the SAD-BJP government but he (Mr Tohra) started a campaign against Mr Badal. “He even approached me to dislodge Mr Badal from the chief ministership of Punjab but I refused to entertain him”, Mr Talwandi revealed. So, there could not be a patch-up with such a leader (Mr Tohra), he added.

Mr Talwandi, who had come with his family, including son, grandsons, daughters-in-law and wife, to convey his thanks to Mr Badal for getting him elected SGPC chief, said it was Mr Badal who had offered him this post. “I was never offered the post of SGPC President by Mr Tohra, who remained the President of this body for a period of over 25 years”, Mr Talwandi observed.

It appeared from what Mr Talwandi said that he had specifically come here to dispel the impression created by media reports, following his election as President, that he had some secret understanding with the Tohra camp, which not only welcomed Mr Talwandi’s election but also exhibited its jubilation over this development.

In fact, Mr Talwandi was feeling very apologetic in the presence of Mr Badal, who was sitting close by on a sofa. “ In the past I have committed blunders, but I had felt sorry for the same”, said Mr Talwandi referring to his campaign against Mr Badal in the late 70s. Mr Badal was gracious enough to forget the past and put him in the SGPC saddle, Mr Talwandi commented. Turning a bit emotional, Mr Talwandi said he would shed his blood for Mr Badal and not ditch him.

When asked why the Tohra camp felt pleased at his being elected the SGPC chief, Mr Talwandi said it wanted to create confusion among the public. Mr Badal also supported this observation of Mr Talwandi in a separate talk with The Tribune. He said there was no move for unity and the impression created in this connection in today’s media reports had no basis. Mr Talwandi said he would do what Mr Badal would tell him.

What is his main agenda? Mr Talwandi said he would create a new spirit in the SGPC and the SAD to help Mr Badal win the next election to the SGPC and the Vidhan Sabha, due to be held in November, 2001, and February, 2001, respectively.

He said he wanted the definition of the word “Sikh” to be on the Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee pattern. The final decision in this connection would be taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee.