CANDIGARH, India: Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi ruled out once for all any dialogue with Akali Dissidents who he said eulogized freedom fighters that were out to destroy the country. Speaking at the meeting of the Congress (I) Parliamentary party at New Delhi on July 18, he remarked that persons who attended the Bhog ceremony of killed freedom fighters are not with the country. Mr, Gandhi found their three conditions utterly unacceptable and their formulation totally negative. The Prime Minister asserted that there could be no talk unless they show that they were for upholding the unity of the nation. He said that he was prepared to talk with any sector of the people that have a of grievances but were prepared to work within the parameter of the constitution He said that the section of people in Punjab who wanted the freedom fighters to be associated with the parleys could not be taken seriously.
Mr. Gandhi maintained that there could be no transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab without the simultaneous transfer of identified Hindi speaking areas in Punjab to Haryana. Commenting on further talks he said that transfer of Chandigarh would take some time, He, however, said that in the meantime better sense would prevail on both sides and mutually acceptable settlement would be reached. Mr. ‘Gandhi expressed serious concern at the migration of Hindus from Punjab to the Delhi State which he said should be stopped at all costs, A sense of security among the minority should be restored, he added.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 25, 1986
