M A I N   N E W S

CM: no one has approached me on Zaffarwal
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 4
As the Zaffarwal issue started snowballing into a political controversy Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal today broke his silence to make his position clear in this connection.

“No one has approached me with regard to the surrender of Wassan Singh Zaffarwal. I am not aware of anything in this connection. I have just read in the newspapers that Zaffarwal wanted to surrender”, said Mr Badal in an informal chat with a group of reporters in his office this morning.

It has been reported that Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, Chief of the Khalistan Commando Force( Zaffarwal), who was staying in Switzerland until recently, has come to India with the intention of surrendering before the Punjab police. Certain Akali leaders are reportedly helping him in this connection.

When asked whether a certain Akali Minister was mediating for Zaffarwal’s surrender, Mr Badal said it was not in his notice. “It will be better if you ask the Minister concerned”, Mr Badal added. To further emphasise the point, Mr Badal said “No one has talked to me on this issue”.

Reacting to the statement made by the President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Capt Amarinder Singh, that a CBI inquiry should be held into Mr Badal’s connection with militants, especially Zaffarwal, Mr Badal said he would welcome any sort of inquiry. “The entire world knows who was on the top of the hit list of militants for the past several years and even now”, Mr Badal said. “They were after me,” he said to further clarify the point.

The Zaffarwal issue has been in the news since the Majitha byelection when his name reportedly figured in connection with certain letters issued to support the Akali candidate

“I have no objection to Capt Amarinder Singh asking any agency to conduct the inquiry”, Mr Badal further said. Later in a brief statement issued in this connection, he said the Congress was in the habit of making motivated and baseless utterances. He cautioned the Congress against indulging in uncalled for mudslinging. The Congress had made such allegations earlier in the Majitha byelection out of frustration on account of having lost a number of byelections in a row by huge margins, Mr Badal said.

Is there any scope of unity with the Tohra faction? Replying to this question, Mr Badal said he had no objection to unity if the intentions of those concerned were honest and sincere. “Have I ever made any statement against Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra?” quipped Mr Badal posing a counter question. “ Mr Tohra has made several statements against me everytime asking me to be present at Akal Takht. I have committed no sin”, he said.

They (Mr Tohra and his supporters) are trying to help the Congress party at every step. It was the Congress which made Mr Tohra win the Hazoor Sahib Board election, Mr Badal asserted. “I have nothing personal against anyone and have always given due respect to all concerned in the rival Akali ranks”, Mr Badal said in a mild tone.

He said his party would come out with a better performance in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections. There was a strong swing in favour of the SAD- BJP Government in the state and it would be clearly reflected in the elections, he added. “ We will win the election on the basis of the performance of our government and not because of the weak Congress opposition in the state”, he added.

“Though my party will be having an alliance with the BJP in the coming election but I am prepared to shake hands with any other political outfit interested in defeating the Congress”, Mr Badal said. He said he still considered Bahujan Samaj Morcha( BSM) headed by Mr Satnam Singh Kainth as an ally of the SAD-BJP in the state. The BSM has parted company with the SAD-BJP a few months ago.

Coming to the WTO agreement, Mr Badal said it was a death warrant for the farming community and the small-scale industry. “There is no level playing field and you will see that farmers and the small-scale industry will not be able to withstand the onslaught of the WTO”, he said. The Congress committed a big blunder by signing the agreement and now it was not possible for the BJP-led government to back out. “We are trying our best to secure safeguards for farmers and the small-scale industry in the form of anti-dumping duty”.

‘Siropa’ presented to Baba Santa Singh
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 4
With the presentation of a ‘siropa’ to Baba Santa Singh, who recently rejoined the Sikh Panth after 17 years of excommunication, at Akal Takht here today, Baba Balbir Singh has virtually forfeited his claim to be Jathedar of the Budha Dal.

After the rejoining of the Panth by Baba Santa Singh, Baba Balbir Singh had claimed that he would continue to be Jathedar of the Budha Dal as he was recognised by the SGPC and Akal Takht.

A large number of Nihang factions assembled at Akal Takht as a mark of according acceptance to Baba Santa Singh as Jathedar of the Budha Dal.

A press note issued by Baba Phula Singh Burj Chhawani stated that Baba Santa Singh was the real Jathedar of the Dal.

Mr Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, speaking on the occasion, asked various factions of Nihangs to sink their differences for the larger interest of the Panth. He said the Panth should be aware of “anti-Panthic forces”.

Earlier, a bhog of akhand path was performed at Akal Takht by the Budha Dal as ‘Thanksgiving’ after the rejoining of Baba Santa Singh.

Baba Santa Singh was excommunicated after carrying out a ‘kar sewa’ of Akal Takht in 1984 which was damaged during the Operation Bluestar in violation of the Sikh maryada.

A pressnote issued by the Budha Dal stated that Baba Santa Singh had expressed his concern over Operation Bluestar.

He said it was a hasty step on the part of the then government.

Among those who attended the bhog, were Baba Daya Singh, Baba Avtar Singh, Baba Harbhajan Singh, Baba Nihal Singh, Baba Narang Singh, Baba Sumiter Singh, Baba Wassan Singh, Baba Sikander Singh, Baba Tarlok Singh, Baba Kundan Singh and Baba Rawel Singh.

In a significant development, responding to the call of Akal Takht against during addiction and use of intoxicants Baba Santa Singh asked representatives of various Nihang factions not to use “bhang” in their deras.

He also asked the state government to take action against the sale and use of “bhang”.