Opinion April 15, 1983, Forty Years Ago: Akalis ‘Do or Die’ squad take oath at Akal Takth

On Baisakhi day, the first batch of 31,500 Akali volunteers of the proposed “self-sacrificing squad” took an oath at the Akal Takht, the highest seat of the Sikh religion, offering their “heads in the service of the Panth”.

Baisakhi day, Akali Dal, BJP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Weapons From UK, MLA Arrested, Indian express, Opinion, Editorial

The second batch of the Akali “do or die” squad will take the same oath on April 27, and the final batch on May 12 to mark the completion of the proposed total force of one lakh volunteers announced by Akali Dal president.

By: Editorial

April 15, 2023 06:21 AM IST First published on: Apr 15, 2023 at 06:06 AM IST

On Baisakhi day, the first batch of 31,500 Akali volunteers of the proposed “self-sacrificing squad” took an oath at the Akal Takht, the highest seat of the Sikh religion, offering their “heads in the service of the Panth”. The second batch of the Akali “do or die” squad will take the same oath on April 27, and the final batch on May 12 to mark the completion of the proposed total force of one lakh volunteers announced by Akali Dal president.

BJP With Pak

The Bharatiya Janata Party favours the early conclusion of a “comprehensive treaty of peace and friendship with Pakistan”. Welcoming the establishment of the India-Pakistan joint commission, the national executive of the party said a mutual agreement between the two countries on non-use of force could no longer be put aside.

MLA Arrested

Nearly 800 persons, including textile strike leader Datta Samant, MLA, were arrested when they tried to take out a procession to the residences of Congress (I) legislators in the city to focus attention on the plight of the strikers, the police said. Police commissioner J F Ribeiro had imposed a 24-hour ban on assemblies and processions from midnight in view of the agitation plan.

Weapons From UK

India has finalised a deal for the purchase of modem anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters for the Indian Navy. The Sea King Mark V helicopters to be supplied by Britain would be fitted with a new generation of anti-shipping air-to-surface missiles and the latest avionics and weapons systems. A high-ranking British defence delegation is giving finishing touches to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to be signed “very soon”.