NEW DELHE: A former Punjab Pradesh Congress-I president Hans Raj Sharma has taken exception to the Cong-I role at the all party meeting. He said the party should take part in evolving a national consensus on the Punjab issue. There was no point in Narasimha Rao taking shelter in the absence of Simranjit. S. Mann and Badal at the meeting in view of the fact that it was the Cong-I which had detained the two leaders in the first place. He regretted that party leaders of the state were not taken into confidence for charting out the approach to the all party meeting.
It was not enough to consult Buta Singh and Darbara Singh whose policies had brought no solace to the people of Punjab.
The Cong-I must renew its Punjab policy. He pleaded for reviving the Swaran Singh, Hans Raj Shama line evolved in 1983 which involved political and administrative action.
Sharma was also critical to SS Ray’s recommendation of holding early elections in the state the conditions were not conducive, he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 22, 1989
