CHANDIGARH, DEC 27: Former SGPC chief and All India Shiromani Akali Dal president Gurcharan Singh Tohra on Sunday asked the Shiromani Akali Dal president, Parkash Singh Badal, to constitute a panel consisting of three retired Sikh judges to probe into the allegations made by Badal that he was in league with the Congress.Tohra alleged that it was Badal who was in league with the Congress and said the panel so formed could be nominated by Badal himself.Addressing a press conference here, he also named a few individuals, including some officials, who he said were closely associated with the Congress and were now running the show even when an Akali government was in power. ``Those who are ideologically committed to the Akali Dal have been ignored,'' Tohra said. He added that it was Badal who had married his close relatives into Congress families.When asked about the Nanakshahi calendar, Tohra supported the calendar and said the work done by Pal Singh Purewal in preparing the calendar was remarkable.On the question of Sonia Gandhi's visit to the Golden Temple, Tohra said any person was free to visit the shrine, but added that she should not be honoured by the SGPC till she apologises to Sikhs. He added that he was not in favour of Sonia being honoured.He said his aim was to rejuvenate the Akali ideology on the twin principles of looking after the interests of the Sikh community throughout the world and to cater to the demands of Punjab and Punjabis. Former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra also addressed the press conference.Tohra reierated the charge that Badal had gone back on his promises of setting up a Commission of Inquiry into the killings of innocent youth in Punjab.p ``Instead of appointing an inquiry, the government is paying hefty fees to lawyers to help these very officers get away.'' He also doubted the intentions of the Centre in appointing a panel to probe the November 1984 riots.
