Amritsar (August 24, 2010): The Dal Khalsa today termed the Rajiv-Longowal accord signed two and a half decades ago as ‘fraud on Punjab’.
Joining the on-going debate with CM Parkash Singh Badal and former CM Captain Amrinder Singh on the issue, Dal Khalsa’s president H S Dhami said both Congress and Akali leaders played “dubious role” and allowed the Centre to cheat and cajole the people of Punjab.
Congress deceived the Sikhs and (Sant) Longowal-Barnala-Balwant troika betrayed the Panth, he observed.
From the day first, the Congress was never serious and sincere towards the Sikhs, said the group’s head. “Late PM Rajiv Gandhi wanted to divert the anger of the community towards its own leadership as he was aware that the Sikh militants would never forgive Sant Longowal for entering into any deal with the Congress, which not only orchestrated the Nov 84 massacre but also ordered its army to attack the holiest shrine”.
The only so-called achievement of this accord was Surjit Singh Barnala’s chief ministership. In the end of the day, Punjab was loser.
He believed that it was the political chicanery of the then Central leadership that strengthened the Sikh resolve to fight against the state with guns.