Chandigarh: The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Sujit Singh Barnala told newsmen at Ludhiana on Dec. 8, that the Punjab Cabinet would be expanded by the month end. He said that it was wrong to say that terrorism was on the rise. It was on the decline and there was an overall decline in the role of crime in the state. The crime in the state in the past full one month was one third of the rate of crime in the corresponding month of last year no young men recently released from jail was reported to be involved in any crime. In fact those released had approached the government for jobs, the Chief Minister added. The Chief Minister appealed to the press not to blow up the minor incidents of crime but help the government in improving the situation in the state. In the reply to a question Barnala said that morale of the police was high. The Chief Minister expressed the hope that Chandigarh will be transferred to Punjab on Jan. 26th. Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala who is also acting President of Akali Dal asserted that there was complete unity in the Akali Dal. According to political circles in Chandigarh Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala is likely to be elected President when the general house meets on December 15th.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 13, 1985
