Sikh Militant Wing to Boycott State Elections in Punjab
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AMRITSAR, India — The militant wing of the main Sikh political party, the Akali Dal, decided today to boycott Punjab state elections and renew its struggle for Sikh autonomy.
Sikh militant leader Joginder Singh charged that Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ordered the elections to cover up “continuing atrocities against Sikhs by security forces” and to lend credibility to an agreement with a moderate Sikh leader to end the three-year Punjab crisis.
Harchand Singh Longowal, the Sikh leader who signed the pact with Gandhi on July 24, was slain in a temple courtyard a week ago by suspected Sikh extremists opposed to his conciliatory policy.
Militants have described the accord as a sellout.
“Longowal signed the agreement in his individual capacity. He had no sanction from the Sikh community. Our struggle has to continue with renewed vigor,” the 74-year-old Joginder Singh said.
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