NANGAL,(ROPAR): The Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh, last week laid to rest all Speculations regarding an imminent cabinet reshuffle,

Talking to newsmen at the residence of O.P.Rattan, his press secretary, in Basdehri village, 3 km from here, the Chief Minister said there was no question of dropping any minister as he was fully satisfied with the working of all his colleagues. He had received unstinted support from the cabinet in his fight against militancy, he emphasized. Modifying his statement at the Suraj kund session, Beant Singh Said he was in favor of a “joint Security zone” of four northern States of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

There was a nexus, he said between the militants of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The militant coordinated their activities across the States” borders and took shelter in Himachal and Haryana. If, his idea of a “joint security zone” was implemented it would be much easy to fight militants, Asked to comment on the possibility of the breakaway group of the BJP joining the Congress, he Said “only time will tell,” He justified the creation of a new party as the breakaway BJP group ful filled the requirements under the anti-detection law, Beant Singh said there was no move to abolish the district planning boards, He wondered why Such rumors were being spread through the media, Coming down heavily on the SGPC for its separatist role, Beant Singh said the elections to the SGPC could only be held after creation of new voter constituencies by the Central government. He did not commit himself to early holding of SGPC elections.

The Chief Minister refuted the allegation that there was a police “ray” in the state, He said his povemment had full control over the police and had recently dismissed an SP and three DSPs. The government would not hesitate to like action against erring cops, he said.

Reaffirming his faith in secular principles he said faith in secular principles he said the Akalis had tuned the state. Their allegation of genocide of the Sikh boys was baseless. The state had only eliminated “dusts” and not innocent boys, Beant Singh said the Jalandhar by election verdict was a clear verdict in favor of the Congress Government and its policies. Those who opposed his policies lost their security deposits at the hustings.

Earlier, Vijay Joshi vice president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress welcomed Beant Singh to his border town of Himachal Pradesh. He stressed the need 10 emulate Punjab sexample in fighting communal forces in Himachal.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 11, 1993