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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
CHANDIGARH, DEC 12: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday refused to comment on the views expressed by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra about his relinquishing the office of the Akali Dal president.
Tohra had on Thursday said in Jalandhar that Badal should shed his burden as the organisational matters would be more demanding after the defeat of the Akali Dal in Adampur Vidhan Sabha by-election.
Tohra's statement has caused tremors in the Badal camp, with his supporters holding informal meeting till late night to chalk out strategies to counter the onslaught from the senior party leader.
Earlier it was rumoured that Badal had convened a meeting of the district jathedars to seek their support. It was only a few days back that the district jathedars had reposed faith in Badal's leadership, both as the Chief Minister as well as the party president.
The Panthic Vichar Manch lent support to the SGPC chief saying a new leader should be brought in to gear up the partyand Badal should devote time to bringing efficiency in the government, make bureaucracy accountable and check price rise.
Manch leaders Col Jasmer Singh Bala, Bharpur Singh, Dr Gurbhagat Singh and others, without directly demanding severing relations with the Bharatiya Janata Party, said Adampur defeat was partly due to wrong policies of the government at the Centre.
Meanwhile, Sikh legislators-designate from the Congress have articulated their commitment to the cause of minorities while they condemned the 1984 carnage as a black spot in the history of India.
Delhi Finance Minister and Congress legislator from Vishnu Garden assembly constituency Mahinder Singh Sathi said is party in its manifesto had affirmed support to all minorities.
The media will be briefed as and when the party comes up with plans or policies as to the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, he said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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