Latest news with #Longowal
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SAD veteran Gobind Singh Longowal hopes for Akali unity when rebels choose new chief
Amritsar: Gobind Singh Longowal —a three-time president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), a minister in the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD govt in 1997, and a four-time MLA — is hopeful of unity among Akalis when the rebel group, of which he is a part, elects a new president on Aug 11. Talking about the upcoming session of the rebels on Aug 11, he said they will elect the new president, and the five-member committee leading the reorganisation had extended an invitation to SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal to attend the session. "We have always been votaries of unity. Even the Akal Takht has called for panthic unity. That is our guiding principle," said Longowal. Asked about SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar backing out of the seven-member committee formed by the Akal Takht on Dec 2, 2024, and reducing it to five members, Longowal said they had only bowed before the directions of the Akal Takht. "We will continue to follow the Sikh clergy's decision," he said. Longowal did not rule out the possibility of a truce between Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD and the rebel faction, stating that unity was in the best interest of the panth. He added there was no harm in reaching a mutual understanding, as long as core principles and values were upheld.
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
July 31, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Golden Temple Clash
The Akali Dal (Longowal) has called upon all Sikhs to observe 'Shukrana Diwas' (thanksgiving day) on August 16 to hail the Centre-Akali accord on Punjab. Earlier, gunfire and violence, in which around 30 persons were injured, erupted outside the Teja Singh Samundri hall following a clash between members of the moderate Akali Dal (L) and the extremist 'United' Dal. None was, however, seriously injured. The episode lasted around 45 minutes. Heat on Bhajan Lal Amidst noisy protests from the Congress-I benches, the Opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha demanded the resignation of Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal. The Janata Party leader in the House, M S Gurupadaswamy, speaking on behalf of Opposition leaders, provoked a loud chorus of protests when he demanded that Bhajan Lal resign to ensure that the inquiry ordered into the charges against him is fair. New Haryana Capital Top town planning experts from the world will be consulted for Haryana's new capital, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal told newsmen in Chandigarh. While announcing the setting up of a high-level site selection committee of senior officers, the Chief Minister gave the assurance that the state's new capital would be beautiful and better than the city of Chandigarh in all respects. The committee has been asked to submit a report within three months. India Disowns Munna The Festival of India authorities clarified that Munna, the dancing bear, was sent to Paris for the festival by the Indian Hotels Corporation — the Taj group. Although Munna, whose recent kidnapping received wide press coverage, attended the inaugural mela in Paris, it was not under the aegis of the Government of India. The Indian Hotels Corporation retained Munna's services after the event to 'amuse patrons' of their restaurant in Paris.
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
July 17, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Decoding CVR
The preliminary hearing of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the ill-fated Air India Jumbo, Kanishka, established that the snapping of communication was 'sudden and abrupt'. The preliminary run was done at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. The spokesman and secretary to the court of inquiry, S N Sharma, said the preliminary run of the tape was 'pretty good and normal'. Conditions for peace Tamil groups have set out four basic principles that they say are vital to Tamil interests and which they want recognised in any new proposals for ending the ethnic conflict. Neelan Tiruchelvam, a spokesman for the Tamil United Liberation Front, said the principles were conveyed to the government at peace talks in Thimphu. They are the acceptance of the Tamils as a national minority, recognition of their traditional homelands, the right to self-determination and citizenship and the right to live in Sri Lanka for all Tamils. Army withdrawn The Army, which was called in to assist the civil administration in Ahmedabad and Baroda to contain violence in the wake of the anti-reservation agitation, has been withdrawn. It will, however, stand by. The decision to withdraw the 2,000-odd troops was taken at a high-power meeting of state government officials with the Army and police. Longowal's plan Harchand Singh Longowal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) has said that the Akali Dal had decided to organise district-level conferences all over Punjab and parts of Haryana. These will be held from August 1 to 20 to mobilise the masses for the new line of action, to be announced on August 20, for the acceptance of its long-pending demands.
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
June 17, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Indo-US statement
India and the United States will maintain close cooperation to combat 'the international dimensions of terrorist violence against India' and broaden their ties through a programme of research covering agriculture, medicine and science. These major decisions were set up in a joint communique issued at the end of PM Rajiv Gandhi's visit to the US. The joint statement is quiet on the differences over the supply of sophisticated weaponry by the US to Pakistan and Pakistan's nuclear programme. Longowal Clarifies THE AKALI DAL (L) president, Harchand Singh Longowal, has said his party was prepared to reconsider the Anandpur Sahib Resolution if 'Hindus have any apprehensions about it'. The resolution did not put forth the demand for a 'Khalistan', he said. Longowal said that the Akali Dal (L) was committed to the unity and integrity of the country. Reagan On Hijackers HIJACKERS WHO KILLED one passenger aboard a TWA jetliner flew back to Beirut with about 40 American hostages still on board, renewing threats to detonate the plane unless Israel releases 50 Shia Muslim guerrilla prisoners. They had earlier sought the release of all such prisoners in Israeli prisons. Ronald Reagan said the US government had been in touch with governments of Israel and Lebanon. Ceasefire in Sri Lanka There was speculation that Sri Lanka's long-drawn separatist war would end this week with most of the Tamil guerrillas and government forces observing a ceasefire, official sources said. National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali signalled an early ceasefire, saying that the settlement process was likely to begin within a week.
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Opinion April 29, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Surat violence
The army was put on alert in Surat after the police fired two rounds to disperse a violent mob that set fire to a large number of huts in the Ambanagar slum area. Incidents of arson, rioting, looting of shops and stone-throwing were reported. Four people were injured in the firing. Two columns of Army jawans have reached Surat to help the civilian authorities in maintaining peace. Longowal's stand Akali Dal president Harchand Singh Longowal's repeated assertions in the capital that the Akalis stand for the unity and integrity of the country and are opposed to violence seem to have made a good impact in political circles, and the visit might create the basis for further moves to solve the Punjab problem. Punjab Governor Arjun Singh and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi are understood to have reviewed the Punjab situation in light of Longowal's speeches. Political circles seem to feel that Longowal is taking a reasonable stand. After Blue Star Parkash Singh Badal, former chief minister and a senior Akali leader, said the government would have to take 'fairly major and liberal steps' to win the confidence of the Sikhs shattered by Operation Blue Star and the November riots. The Akali leader, who was addressing his first press conference after release from 10 months of detention under the NSA, declined to specify the steps. He further said that the Sikhs could not tolerate the desecration of the Golden Temple and the Akal Takht.
