Patiala, May 20
Top leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is in a quandary with regard the statement lauding Ms Sonia Gandhi by Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Secretary of the SGPC, and a member of the Political Affairs Committee.
Peeved over his statement, the SAD leadership is trying to find that how it should react in this connection. Seemingly overjoyed by the appointment of Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister of the country, Mr Calcutta had gone overboard praising Ms Sonia Gandhi yesterday.
Mr Calcutta in his statement has given the impression that by elevating Dr Manmohan Singh to the office of the Prime Minister, the party had cleansed itself of the “sins” of the Operation Blue Star and anti-Sikh Delhi riots. Mr Calcutta had talked about the bridging of the gap between the Sikh community and the Congress in his statement.
Senior Akali leaders say without the approval of Mr Badal, Mr Calcutta should have not made such a statement.
In fact, Mr Badal made a very guarded and conditional statement on the issue. Mr Badal felicitated Dr Manmohan Singh but did not say any word in praise of Ms Sonia Gandhi or the Congress. While felicitating Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr Badal had hoped that it would mark the end of politics of confrontation pursued by the Congress against the Akali Dal.
A senior leader of the party said Mr Calcutta’s statement had
created a sort of “mini-storm” in the party. The matter is likely to be taken up at the next meeting of the PAC, which is expected to be held within next few days. The Congress is the main rival of the SAD in Punjab and there was no question of praising its President as well as the organisation headed by her, said a senior Akali leader. The Congress had earlier made Giani Zail Singh President of the country but it did not change its policy regarding the Akali Dal, the Panth the Sikhs, said the Akali leader.
“It is true that Dr Manmohan Singh was most competent person and his image is that of an honest and clean person. Dr Manmohan Singh has also no bias against Akalis. He deserved all praise and complements.
But no one knows that under what political compulsions, Ms Sonia Gandhi and the Congress had elected him as prime ministerial candidate” said the Akali leader. “To praise Ms Sonia Gandhi is politically irrational and illogical”, said the Akali leader.
“The Congress had denied the Sikhs their due for the past six decades and to get mesmerised by its one act could prove harmful to the Akali politices”, he added.
It is perhaps for the first time that the SGPC has exhibited its independence and made the policy statement on its own without consulting the SAD leadership which has a control over its management.
