CPI call to fight separatist forces

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 4: Apprehending revival of separatist and communal tendencies in the wake of factional fighting in the ruling Akali Dal...

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 4: Apprehending revival of separatist and communal tendencies in the wake of factional fighting in the ruling Akali Dal in Punjab, the Communist Party of India today called upon the secular and democratic forces to join hands to face the challenge.

The party does not rule out return of the bloody days going by the indications available from the slogans having been raised, especially by now 8220;suspended8221; Akkal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, including that of separate Sikh identity and separate civil code. State CPI secretary Joginder Dayal said after a meeting of the state party council that it was for the first time a Jathedar of the Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, had talked in this language. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale never occupied this high office.

He said placed in the context of the forces abroad getting reactivated, such pronouncements would encourage separatist and communal tendencies. The threat of bloodshed coming from Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Gurcharan Sinbgh Tohra at Anandpur Sahib would also have to be seen in that very context.

He recalled the CPI had earlier also made sacrifices while confronting terrorism and would like all the democratic forces to unite to check such tendencies at this stage itself as violence and terrorism had no place in a civilised society.

Dayal also urged Chief Minister Parakash Singh Badal to separate religion from politics.

Referring to the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa, the CPI leader said his party was of the considered opinion that the significance and relevance of this great event should not be limited to a particular region, religious community, political party or individual. The historic event should neither be politicised nor used as an occasion to satisfy personal ego and ambitions.

Commenting upon the stand taken by state unit of the Communist Party of India Marxist in not joining the celebrations, Dayal said there appeared to be a contradiction as party general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet had not so far resigned from the national committee set up by the prime minister for this purpose.

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The state council decided to set up a party secretariat having nine members including Dayal, Bhupinder Samber, Jagroop Singh, Piara Singh Deosi, Bant Brar, Hardev Arshi, Harbhajan Singh, Kartar Singh Bowani and Gurnam Kanwar.