CHANDIGARH: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) acting president Harcharan Singh Hero and. Youth Congress president M.S. Bitta have criticized Union minister Buta Singh’s reported statement that chief minister Harcharan Singh Brar’s government had done nothing to contain ‘militancy in the state.
Describing the statement as “unfortunate and untimely,” Mr. Hero said that the government was in control of the situation and the state had maimed incident free since the assassination of Beant Singh, he added.
Mr, Hero said that Buta Singh, as Union home minister, was responsible for law and order in the stats when the state was under President’s rule and had failed miserably in com bating militancy.
“In fact, allegations were made against Buta Singh that he had provided shelter to militants,” Hero said.
It may be recalled that Hero hail issued a showcase notice for antiparty activities to Buta Singh and some of his supporters last year. He had refused to rescind the orders even after Buta Singh was inducted into the Union cabinet. Some Congress leaders, not wishing to be named, said that the Union Minister was angry with Mr. Brar since his nephew Joginder Singh Mann had not been accommodated in the Punjab ministry.
“If Mr, Brar inducts M., Mann in the cabinet, Buta Singh will start cabling Mr. Brar a dedicated fighter against militancy,” they added sarcastically
Article extracted from this publication >> November 10, 1995
