Chandigarh: The Punjab Chief Minister said in Chandigarh on December 2 that he was fully aware of the responsibility of the Chief Minister commenting on the statement of Prime Minister regarding the release of prisoners and withdrawal of cases Mr. Barnala said that the release was ordered on the basis of recommendations of the Bains Committee and were not discriminatory as alleged by Mr. Gandhi. I know my responsibility as Chief Minister and my government is doing whatever is necessary. Law and order is a state subject, he asserted. Mr. Surjit Singh said there was no evidence to judge that any of the persons released by the government was involved in any incidence of violence in Punjab. The majority of the cases withdrawn by the government are those in which the accused had already been enlarged on bail. The Akali government has been made the target of these releases and withdrawal of cases though there was nothing indiscriminate in all of this. The Chief Minister said that there is information with the government that trained persons are coming from across the border to enter into Punjab. Police has been given free hand to deal with any situation. He said there was no evidence to suggest that those involved in the incidence of violence belong to an organized party. He said that there was no chance of delay in transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab on the Republic Day.
The Punjab Police is fully competent to meet law and order situation in the state. Mr. Summit Singh said.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 6, 1985
