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Tohra's autonomy demand draws flak

The passage of the autonomy resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly continued to cast its shadow on Punjab politics with four senior state Akali ministers 'ridiculing' former Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee chief Guracharan Singh Tohra who endorsed the autonomy resolution.

The four ministers Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Ajit Singh Kohar and Tota Singh, in a joint statement here condemned the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal chief Tohra's demand for a similar resolution on the autonomy for Punjab in the state assembly.

They said this only showed the political ignorance of the former SGPC chief.

The ministers, however, supported the setting up of, what they called, ''a true federal structure in the country''.

They said that the issue of federal structure and more powers to the states had been repeatedly raised in the Governor's address in at least four sessions of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha and the same address had been adopted by the house.

''Even the Punjab Accord which was unanimously approved by Parliament, spoke about the need for more powers to the states and, hence, Tohra's demand is no more than a political gimmick,'' the statement said.

Meanwhile, the ruling party's general secretary Kirpal Singh Badungar said that his party has planned to hold a series of seminars on 'autonomy to states'.

The exercise is eventually an effort to counter the rival Akali faction, which was trying to embarass Badal on the issue of autonomy, observed a senior ruling Akali Dal minister.

UNI

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