WSN Service CHANDIGARH: The US govt is in the process of reframing its policy towards India’s Punjab problem. William Clarke, US ambassador indicated here last week.
Clarke spent four days in Punjab meeting leaders of political and social groups to acquaint himself with a range of views which will help frame U.S policy.
The US envoy did not elaborate as to how and why his country’s policy towards Punjab was being changed. In the course of his stay here Clarke and the first secretary of the US embassy met Governor Virinder Verma and police chief KPS Gill, Simranjit Singh Mann, Parkash Singh Badal, Amrinder Singh, Congress I leader Beant Singh and Dal L leader Kanwarjit Singh.
However, he refrained from meeting any militant leaders even from the AISSF or even any human rights organisations representatives.
In a significant remark, the US envoy said he was of the opinion that the Punjab problem was not a communal problem but a fight between those in power and those outside it. It was not a consequence of a class struggle either, he said. He said his perception had changed after his visit.
Replying to questions from newsmen, Clarke said while it was a fact that arms were coming from Pakistan it was not clear whether they were sent under sponsorship of the Pakistan govt. Since Pak involvement could not be proved, the US govt could not apply economic sanctions against that country.
Commenting on former Premier Bhutto’s statement pledging support to self-determination for Kashmiris, Clarke said the expression of views did not mean much. In any case, Bhutto was playing politics, he said.
Clarke said his country’s foreign policy was effected to a degree with the very active groups including those backing Khalistan working in the US. He said there could be no ban on the flow of funds from the US to militants. He said there was no law against it.
The Akali leaders apprised Clatke of the origin of the problem and indicated a solution while Congress I leaders and the govt were of the view that it was a merely a law and order problem which was being combated.
Mann said the problem started with the exploitation of Punjab’s resources to benefit neighboring states. He urged the restoration of Punjab’s rights Badal wanted the Constitution redrafted to that the center retained only four powers and gave all other power to the states as specified in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 17, 1990
