All party meeting at Ludhiana was responded well to by several thousand Punjabis, who find a ray of hope in the attitude and functioning of New Government. Last five years have put them through under tremendous mental pressure. Fear, torture and harassment by the security forces still stalk them. They want a sigh of relief now. It was in this background that Mr. V P Singh was Breeted with open arms on his first visit to the Golden Temple Amritsar last month. And now at Ludhiana again people have assured him that his every genuine effort to assuage the wounded Sikh psyche would be appreciated.
‘Addressing a mammoth gathering at Ludhiana the P.M, said “Punjab is our first concern and we will do everything to see it peaceful and prosperous” be added “We have come to the people of Punjab with the faith that they would be Enable to punishment.
About 13 million Punjabi voters of which more than fifty percent are illiterate have rejected the repressive policies of Cong (I) through peaceful voting. It was an index of their mind and provided “an ample proof that they wish to live in peace but not at the cost of self-pride and freedom. There must be endeavor to restore justice in Punjab.
Mr. Simiranjit Singh Mann who after his release has shrewdly been trying to keep his legs in two boats. One hand he says that Sikh grievance could be redressed with in the constitutional frame work provided the Govt is sincere. On the other to avoid the wrath of the militants he sticks to the “Bhindranwale Goal,” a term the late sant never defined himself during his life-time. Now the concept of ‘Bhinderanwsle Goal’ can be accommodated in the present Indian.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 16, 1990
