APRIL 29, 1984, FORTY YEARS AGO

AKAL TAKHT FOR UNITY

THE JATHEDAR OF the Akal Takht, Giani Kirpal Singh, along with other high priests, is busy trying to find a way to forge unity among different factions of Sikh leaders and to re-establish an atmosphere of peace and sanctity in the Golden Temple complex. Political observers feel that although a powerful faction of the Akali Dal wants the Jathedar of the Akal Takht to issue a “hukamnama”, he will not.

DENG ON TAIWAN

THE CHINESE LEADER, Deng Xiaoping, told US President Ronald Reagan that Taiwan’s ties with the United States would remain unchanged following peaceful reunification with communist China. “The Chinese people on both sides of the (Taiwan) strait can increase their contact gradually and realise peaceful reunification through negotiations,” Deng said during a meeting with President Reagan in the Great Hall of the People.

SGPC WALKOUT

THE WALKOUT BY a group of SGPC members and Akali Dal activists from the Akali Dal meeting has marked the dissolution of the Akali Dal (Talwandi) group. Although most of the party workers who staged the walkout were members of the Talwandi group, they did not want to give that impression. The general secretary of the Akali Dal (Talwandi) who led the walkout said they wanted to pursue the “path of truth”.

MODINAGAR TENSE

MODINAGAR REMAINED TENSE following a bloody clash between two rival unions at the Modi Textile Mills resulting in the death of two persons and grievous injury to another. The dead are identified as Ram Nath and Khushiram, both belonging to the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS). HMS member Bhagwan Singh received injuries on his head.