BARGARI MORCHA TO CALL OFF STIR
TALKS FRUCTIFY Parallel jathedar Mand, who is spearheading the stir, hints that announcement is likely to be made after govt representatives’ visit to Bargari
The Bargari Insaaf Morcha is likely to call off its 189-daylong sit-in by Sunday with state govt managing to persuade protesters to end stir.
ORGANISERS CREDITING THEMSELVES WITH GETTING THE ACCUSED OF BARGARI SACRILEGE NABBED A DAY AFTER THEY BEGAN PROTEST
FARIDKOT: The Bargari Insaaf Morcha is likely to call off its 189-daylong sit-in by Sunday with the state government finally managing to persuade the protesters to end their agitation.
“The government representatives are coming to Bargari on Sunday and will announce their final decision on our demands,” said parallel Akal Takht jathedar Dhian Singh Mand who is heading the ‘morcha’ since June 1. The three key demands of the morcha are: arrest of culprits behind the sacrilege, arrest of police officers responsible for Behbal Kalan firing deaths and release of Sikh detainees.
Mand hinted that the negotiations between the morcha and the government have ended on a positive note and the dharna would be lifted.
Parallel Damdama Sahib jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal, during his address to the gathering, said: “I was informed by Mand on Thursday morning that government has accepted our demands and would make official announcement on Sunday.”
He said the government representatives would come to Bargari in a day or two to attend the bhog of akhand paath of Guru Granth Sahib. Panchayati Raj minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa, who was the “chief negotiator” from the government side said he had received feelers that the dharna is likely to be called off on Sunday.
“We will welcome the decision of the organisers. If the chief minister asks me, I will surely attend the gathering at Bargari on Sunday,” said Bajwa.
However, certain morcha leaders want larger consultations on decision regarding lifting of the dharna. “It should be community’s call. Mand cannot decide things on his own,” said a leader.
A source privy to the development said the negotiations were fast-tracked after the special investigation team (SIT), formed by the state government to probe the 2015 firing cases, started its investigation.
To showcase it serious approach, the SIT even summoned former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and Bollywood star Akshay Kumar in the case and have recorded statements of more than 200 people, including top rank police and civil officers.
WIN-WIN SITUATION
If the Morcha calls off the dharna, it would be a win-win situation for both the Sikh leaders and the state government. The organisers are crediting themselves that a day after they started the protest on June 1, the government had arrested the accused of Bargari sacrilege. Later, the government also tabled the justice Ranjit Singh commission report in the Punjab assembly.
The state government, that is making desperate efforts to end this dharna too, wants to pat its back by claiming that it had fulfilled all demands of the Sikh leaders.