LUDHIANA, NOV 25: The efforts of Sikh preacher Harbhajan Singh Yogi to sink differences between Shiromani Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal and AISAD chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra failed today with the Tohra faction rejecting Yogi's three-point proposal and described him as a ``self-styled mediator''.Sources in the Tohra camp told The Indian Expressx that after discussing the proposal with his colleagues, Tohra had ruled out compromise with Badal and completely rejected Yogi's proposal.It is learnt that on Tuesday Yogi had a two-hour secret meeting with Tohra and some of his confidants here and proposed a formula to sink differences with Badal. ``Under the proposal, Yogi assured Tohra that former Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh would be installed at Anandpur Sahib and, in turn, Tohra would have to sacrifice his close relationship with Bhai Ranjit Singh, which was not possible,'' sources in the Tohra camp told The Indian Express today.During the meeting, Yogi also apprised Tohra of the fact that Badal was ready for ``rapprochement'' and would give him due position in the party in due course of time if he agreed to merge the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal with SAD. Sources said that Yogi assured Tohra that he had made Badal agree to some of his suggestions on appointing a working president with the pre-condition that Tohra would have to wait for his ``due'' for a few months.Yogi reportedly met Badal over this issue at the residence of Charanjit Singh Atwal in Chandigarh early this week and later after talking to both the factions, Yogi made some press statements yesterday claiming that his efforts would work out and a complete Panthic unity will be retained soon.But, terming Yogi a ``self-styled mediator'', the Tohra camp today said their fight with Badal was for the reinstatement of Bhai Ranjit Singh at Amritsar and not at Anandpur Sahib, so there was no point in the proposal.``Badal knows very well that if Bhai Ranjit Singh is reinstalled at Amritsar he would immediately summon him for violating the Akal Takht maryada, so the proposal has been made in such a way so that Badal can be saved,'' remarked a close confidant of Tohra. A patch-up can be possible only if Badal admits openly the guilt of violating the jathedar's hukamnama,'' he added. Top
