M A I N   N E W S

Peace formula on cards
Move to include 2 Dalits on gurdwara panel
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Talhan (Jalandhar), June 10
With a view to easing out tension between Dalits and Jats, the new team of top police and administrative officials are busy hammering out a “widely acceptable” “peace formula” based on extension of representation to Dalits on the management committee of the contentious “Samadh-cum-Gurdwara” of Shahid Baba Nihal Singh.

The new team of officials, including Mr J.P. Virdi, officiating IG (Zonal), Mr Dinkar Gupta DIG, and Mr Harpreet Sidhu, SSP, held a round of meetings with members of the Dalit Action Committee and members of the existing gurdwara management committee in the presence of Mr D.R. Bhatti, Additional Director-General of Police in Jalandhar and Talhan today.

The new formula, according to sources, proposes inclusion of two members of the Dalit community into the existing six-member management committee of the gurdwara, possibly by way of cooption. Though “bilateral currents of mistrust in view of the happenings in the past” are there, but the two sides gave indications that they had a ‘broader acceptability’ to the formula, said to have been hammered out by the new team, highly placed sources said. The only bone of contention is whether to give representation in the management committee to “non-Keshdhari” Dalits. The toughened postures are softening as both sides have “realised” that ultimately they have no option but to come to the table for a dialogue, leading to some sort of compromise, revealed a top official adding,” we are expecting a settlement soon”.

Earlier, members of the Dalit Action Committee represented by Mr Lahori Ram Bali and Mr Ramesh Chokan and BJP’s state unit Vice-President, Mr Vijay Sampla, held a meeting with Mr Bhatti during which they demanded a compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the family of the deceased and compensation of Rs 1 lakh to each of those injured. They felt this would help build a congenial atmosphere for a dialogue. Though the administration had assured them that they would be allowed to visit this village in the evening, but, no such permission could be granted.

Meanwhile, a team of top administrative and police officials including the Jalandhar Division Commissioner, Mr R.S. Sandhu, Mr D.S. Bhatti, ADGP, Mr Ashok Gupta, DC, Mr Dinkar Gupta, DIG, visited the curfew bound Buta Mandi area and took stock of the situation. What helped ease the already waning tension in the area, was the handing over of a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the family of Vijay Kumar Kala, who allegedly died in police firing on Thursday night. The team, however, had to face the anguish of people when it visited a temple in the area where the Mayor, Mr Surinder Mahey, and a number of BSP workers led by Mr Avinash gave vent to their anguish over the alleged police firing and subsequent “atrocities” committed by police officials on Dalits in Buta Mandi and at Talhan village.

Punjab ministers, Mr Avtaar Henry, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee and Chaudhary Santokh Singh, who were also members of the high-powered committee constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, also visited Buta Mandi area. Shopkeepers and residents demanded that since they were suffering from a number of problems curfew should be lifted completely.

Meanwhile the district administration extended the curfew relaxation till 6 pm.