LUDHIANA: The four member team known as the “Friends of Punjab” Said here May 3 that there was no democratic setup in the Stale and it was being governed by the police.
The four members namely Subodh Kant Sahay, Lt Gen Jagi Singh Aurora (Retd), Dr.Mahee Singh and Prof Harmet Singh, who were On the last leg of their tour, told newsmen that Punjab problem Was not only a law and order problem and it also had a political component too. They regretted that Punjab, which had suffered for the last 10 years, was no longer on the national agenda; the problem was not discussed in the Lok Sabha and other national forums.
They were worried as the Chief Minister, Beant Singh, he did not concede the fact that Punjab had no political problem and it was being dealt as a law and order problem only.
Before the elections in Punjab, there was talk of providing a healing touch to the Sikh psyche and it was emphasized that the government ‘should talk to the parties involved in the state’s politics.
In reply. To a question they said that’ was a question of sharing power. When pointed out that Akalis were fighting among themselves and there were no militant leaders for holding talks, the four leaders said that they met Akali leaders, namely Parkash Singh Badal and Surjit Singh Bamala and others during their tour.
The team has visited Amritsar, Tam Taran, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh.
When Sahay was reminded that no steps were taken to find a political solution to the Punjab problem when his party was in power.
He said that it was only the Congress which ruled the country. He came to know of the postponement of elections in Punjab then through All India Radio though he was the Home Minister.
These leaders conceded that law and order situation in the state had definitely improved. But it was not the real “shanu.” It was the Suppression of feelings. The Chief Minister does not listen to the people. He should behave like a political leader.”
When the Friends of Punjab were reminded what they had done to get the guilty of the 1984 riots punished, they said that they had been pressing the Central Government to take action against the guilty, but so far no positive results had been obtained.
When pointed out that there were municipal and panchayat elections after the formation of the Congress government, they said there were allegations of malpractices in these elections. They suggested the Rajiv Longowal accord.
The team met a number of human rights groups and political leaders, including Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri, convener of the Marxist Forum, during their stay in Ludhiana.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 7, 1993
