Clemency for Davinderpal Singh Bhullar want Akalis

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030319/punjab1.htm
Akalis undecided on unityBut one on clemency for Davinderpal Singh Bhullar
Lalit Mohan
Anandpur Sahib, March 18
The various Akali Dals at separate conferences on the eve of Hola Mohalla here today, demanded clemency for Davinderpal Singh Bhullar sentenced to death by the Supreme Court for bomb blast in front of India Youth Congress office at New Delhi.
From left: Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, Mr Surjan Singh Thekedar, Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and Mr Suchcha Singh Chhotepur at the SHSAD conference; Mr Simranjit Singh Mann along with his party leaders at the SAD (Amritsar) conference.
The SAD (Badal) conference passed a resolution to this effect. The resolution was read by Capt Kanwaljit Singh, former Punjab Finance Minister decried death sentence of Bhullar and demanded clemency for him. Similar resolutions were also adopted at the conferences of the SHSAD and the SAD (Amritsar).
Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, general secretary, SHSAD, told the Press that all Akali parties would jointly present a memorandum to the President of India on March 30 demanding commutation of Bhullar’s sentence.
Mr Parkash Singh Badal at a press conference also said that sentence on Devinder Pal Singh to be illegal. Devinder Bhullar was extradited from Germany on the condition that he would not be given death sentence. But in the case of Bhullar the above fact had been ignored, he alleged.
Mr Badal also alleged that none of the accused in the 1984 riots against the Sikhs had been sentenced but Bhullar only a co-accused had been sentenced.
Later addressing the conference Mr Badal accused the Congress government in the state of interfering in internal affairs of the Sikhs. Capt Amarinder Singh was trying to take control of the religious places of the Sikhs by force. He tried to do the same in SGPC elections but failed, he added.
The government in the state had gone back on election promises and taxes had been imposed on people and many welfare schemes and free power for the weaker sections started by the previous government stopped.
Mr B.S. Ramoowalia, president of the Lok Bhalai Party, addresses a conference at Anandpur Sahib on Tuesday.
Lieut-Gen Baldev Singh Randhawa (retd) addresses ex-servicemen at the Rashtriya Raksha Dal conference in Anandpur Sahib on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph
People gather at Anandpur Sahib on the eve of Hola Mohalla.
The farmers of the state facing hardship had been burdened with electricity bills on tubewells and cess on canal water, Mr Badal alleged.
Capt Kanwaljit Singh alleged lawlessness prevailed in the state and opposition leaders were being harassed. Alleging rigging of the recently concluded Municipal Council elections, he said that if voted to power the SAD would have the things rectified.
Jathedar Kirpal Singh Badungar, president of the SGPC, alleged that the Congress was encouraging vested interests to interfere in religious affairs of the Sikhs. The recent attack by activists of the Khalsa Panchayat on SGPC officials in the Golden Temple complex was one such act of the Congress, he alleged. Bibi Jagir Kaur, former president of the SGPC, Mr Sucha Singh Langah, former Punjab minister, Mr Balwinder Singh Bhunder, general secretary of the SAD, Bibi Satwant Kaur Sandhu former Punjab minister also addressed the conference.
Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, told the Press that unity between the Akali Dals was possible.
A recent meeting between SHSAD president, Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Mr Prakash Singh Badal had raised hopes of unity of the Akali parties but the issue had not been discussed by the parties, he said. On the re-installation of Bhai Ranjit Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht, Mr Chandumajra said that it could be sorted out through dialogue.
He hoped that the “beating” at the hands of the Congress would force the Akali Dals to unity.
Optimism of Mr Chandumajra on unity was, however, not shared by president of the SAD Prakash Singh Badal. Mr Badal declined to comment on the issue of unity.
The SHSAD, president Gurcharan Singh Tohra failed to attend the conference of the party due to health reasons. Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur also addressed the political conference. He accused the Congress government of victimising opposition leaders. He alleged rigging of Municipal Council elections of use of police force too.
Mr Simranjit Singh Mann president of the SAD (Amritsar), in a resolution, adopted on the eve of Hola Mohalla urged the Union government to declare SGPC elections.
He alleged that SGPC elections were due for one and half years, and the Union Government was not keen on holding these fearing that its alliance partner might lose hold on the mini parliament of the Sikhs. The SAD (A) threatened to internationalise the issue of SGPC elections.
Later at the conference of his party Mr Mann said that his party had taken a vow to pull down the leadership of M/s Tohra and Badal for they betrayed the Sikhs politically and religiously.
He also ruled out unity of his party with other Akali Dals. Both Mr Badal and Mr Tohra had no principles, he alleged. Mr Mann further said that his party demanded that Sikh jathas should be allowed to go to Pakistan for pilgrimage on Baisakhi this year as per the Liaquat-Nehru at Pact.