CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Congress (Tiwari) president, Jagmeet Singh Brar, MP, demanded a high-level enquiry by a high court judge to go into the bomb blast which killed Chief Minister Beant Singh.
Addressing a news conference here, he said the investigations by the security agencies would not serve the purpose as contradictory and confusing statements were appearing in the press. He also referred to the statement of the Union Home Minister, S.B. Chavan, on the issue. He said the bomb blast was a glaring security lapse. He said the killing of Beant Singh, whom he described as a great martyr, had shaken the faith of the people and they were apprehensive about the future. While giving credit to the assassinated chief minister for the restoration of peace, he felt that the political activity might be adversely affected.
He blamed the indifferent attitude of the Center towards Punjab for this situation. He said the Center could not be absolved of its responsibility in the assassination of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal and Beant Singh Longowal and Beant Singh. He maintained that Punjab was a political problem and not law and order problem. He also blamed the Congress party in the state for not highlighting the ground reality.
He expressed the hope that the new Chief Minister, Harcharan Singh Brar, whom he described as a seasoned politician, would take up the issues like the river water dispute and the Satluj Yamuna link canal strongly with the Center as he had been taking a very clear stand on these issues as minister.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 15, 1995
