M A I N   N E W S

Vedanti ready to mediate
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 6
Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti today stressed the need for complete Panthic unity and uniformity of “Sikh rehat maryada”.

It is after six years that any Akal Takht Jathedar has emphasised on a rapprochement among warring Akali factions. Earlier, Prof Manjit Singh, the then acting Akal Takht Jathedar, had tried in vain to forge Panthic unity in April 1994.

Talking to TNS, Jathedar Vedanti said he was ready to mediate. Leaders of splinter groups could be easily accommodated for the sake of unity, he said.

“Though the splinter Akali factions have been claiming to be Panthic, they are devoid of any Panthic agenda”, he said.

He gave a clean chit to the ruling SAD, saying that it had got the public mandate and hence was pursuing a Panthic agenda.

He said the Panth and Punjab would prosper after achieving unity.

Jathedar Vedanti also stressed on stressed on the need for uniformity of Sikh maryada. He said Sikh organisations which were pursuing different Sikh traditions should follow Akal Takht and differences, if any, could be solved amicably.

He also emphasised on the need to release Sikh detenus languishing in various jails of the country. Efforts should also be made to reinstate Army personnel who had deserted barracks in protest against Operation Bluestar.

In yet another significant statement, Jathedar Vedanti criticised the distribution of liquor and money for grabbing votes during SGPC elections. He said steps should be taken to bring about changes in gurdwara managements. For this purpose, true Gursikhs should be given prominence.

However, Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, rejected the Panthic unity proposal mooted by Akal Takht Jathedar. 

Chautala turns down PM’s offer
Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, June 6
The Haryana Chief Minister and INLD chief, Mr Om Prakash Chautala has turned down the offer of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to recommend two names from his party for induction into the Union Council of Ministers.

Also, Mr Chautala has indicated Mr Vajpayee that his INLD may change its present “unconditional” support to the NDA government at the Centre to a “conditional” one if the chief of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) was made the Union Agriculture Minister.

According to well-placed sources, Mr Chautala called on Mr Vajpayee last Tuesday and conveyed to him his party’s decision not to recommend any name for induction into the Union Council of Ministers. At the same meeting, which lasted for over 30 minutes, Mr Chautala gave broad indications of his party changing its nature of support to the NDA government.

Significantly, when Mr Vajpayee told Mr Chautala that he may give Mr Ajit Singh some other portfolio, if not Agriculture, the Haryana strongman’s response was said to be less forthright. The sources added that Mr Chautala’s opposition to the move of giving a portfolio other than Agriculture in the meeting was equivocal.

The offer of the Prime Minister was conveyed to Mr Chautala on June 2 through the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mr Rajnath Singh.

The PMO’s exercise through the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to mollify Mr Chautala was to thrash out a formula for making Mr Ajit Singh, the son of former Prime Minister, late Charan Singh, the Union Agriculture Minister in the next Cabinet reshuffle. Mr Chautala is opposing the move, tooth and nail.

The coming of Mr Rajnath Singh in the frame of the present controversy is on account of him, along with the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, being determined to induct Mr Ajit Singh in the Cabinet and forge the BJP’s electoral alliance with the RLD in Uttar Pradesh for the coming assembly election in that state. Mr Ajit Singh is considered to be having clout in Western Uttar Pradesh, which has more than 120 assembly segments. After the poor showing by the NDA allies, especially the BJP, in the recent assembly elections in the five states, the BJP is keen to retain power in the crucial state of the cow belt. The BJP is aware of the possible alarm bell at the Centre that may tank following loss of power in the state.

Before leaving for a working holiday in Manali, Mr Vajpayee, at a joint meeting with Mr Rajnath Singh and Mr Pyare Lal Khandelwal, national vice-president of the BJP, had suggested talking to Mr Chautala on Mr Ajit Singh’s issue.

The INLD insiders said undeterred by the outcome of the party’s opposition to Mr Ajit Singh’s entry in the Union Cabinet, they would continue holding public meetings in western Uttar Pradesh. The next public meeting would be held in Amroha on June 24. The INLD has already organised three successful public meetings in western Uttar Pradesh.

On the other side, the loyalists of Mr Ajit Singh in Haryana are planning to honour him at a public meeting in the state following his possible induction into the Council of Ministers.

This move is with a view to open a direct front against Mr Chautala and his INLD in retaliation against his offensive forays against Mr Charan Singh’s clan in western Uttar Pradesh.