Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, July 8: Col. Jasmer Singh Bala, one of the architects of the Amritsar Declaration, today demanded unqualified apology from Punjab Education Minister Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema for denigrating Akal Takht by attacking this sacrosanct document as the demand for Khalistan.
In a statement issued here today, he said Dr Cheema was totally ignorant of the fact that the Amritsar Declaration was conceptualized by Akal Takht Jathedar Prof Manjit Singh and his colleague high priests and given the final shape by eminent scholar Dr Gurbhagat Singh in consultation with Sikh intellectuals and political leaders lasting over a week. The idea had evolved at Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, at the culmination of the Khalsa march.
He said it was disgusting that State Education Minister and Akali Dal spokesman was totally ignorant about even the recent Sikh history as this document only demanded confederation and not Khalistan. The signatories had also included former chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala.
He made it clear that although he was an Akali activist when he signed the Amritsar Declaration, he was no more active in politics for more than a decade as he was devoting his entire time in the field of education.
He said being in a non-political role at present but in the capacity of one of the architects of the accord, it was his duty to Akal Takht to debunk such canards about this historic document. He counseled Dr Cheema to first read it then come out with his expert comment.
Col Bala said he should have had the courtesy to consult his present colleagues like Jathedar Tota Singh, Akali Dal General Secretaries Prem Singh Chandumajra, MP and Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Advisor to the Chief Minister and former minister Hira Singh Gabria on this document as they were part of the outfit that had adopted it.
