CHANDIGARH: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has held P.V. Narasimha Rao responsible for Akali boycott of the February 19 elections.

Harkishan Singh Surjeet, general secretary of the CPM, released his correspondence with the Prime Minister. He had urged the Prime Minister for a political initiative on the Punjab problem and involvement of the moderate Akalis in the election fray.

Through these letters the CPM leader warned the Prime Minister that if no political initiative was in place the Akalis would join hands with militants and the situation in Punjab would take an ugly turn.

Surjeet said his apprehensions had come true and “the Akalis felt prey to the threats of the militants and decided to boycott the elections.”

Surjeet wrote seven letters 10 Narasimha Rao since the latter assumed office in June 1991 till Punjab elections were notified on January 24, In his first letter to Narasimha Rao on July 7,191, Surjeet emphasized on the necessity of initiating action in Punjab and strongly criticized the postponement of the elections just a day prior to the date of polling in June 1991.

Surjeet wrote, The CPI (M) is of the firm view that the people of Punjab are opposed to separatism and terrorism. But they ate fed up with the prolonged resident’s rule which has developed vested interests within the administration and consequent harassment of innocent people at the hands of the police and officials. The people would therefore welcome the restoration of the democratic process provided they are able to exercise their franchise freely.

In the first letter, Surjeet emphasized the political package as he mentioned. “Above all, an immediate announcement of measures aimed at solving the issues which lay at the root of the Punjab tangle has to be made, in the main they are handing over Chandigarh to Punjab. Since the Bill for the construction of a new capital for Haryana is to be by the Center, there should be no linking up of this issue with other territorial disputes.

You might face difficulty in setting the water dispute as per the provisions of the Rajiv Longowal accord given the confusion created by the Commission which while putting forward its proposals did not adhere to the clear cut formulations made in the accord. Moreover, as three states are involved no fresh solution can be forthcoming within a short period. The only course lefts to refer the matter to the Supreme Count for a verdict, which should be binding on all concerned.

A tribunal is setup immediately to go into the territorial disputes between Punjab and Haryana. Unsettled claims with regard to contiguous Punjabi and non-Punjabi speaking areas arising out of the formation of Haryana in 1966, the question of Abohar and Fazilka also should be referred to this tribunal.

“There is a large chunk of Punjabi population in Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, steps should be taken to provide education to children opting to study Punjabi. Steps to protect their cultural values and encouragement to their art should also be taken,

With regard to Punjab in particular and for the country as a whole an interstate council should be setup to look into the question of Centre state relations.”

Surjeet pleaded for a unilateral announcement of these measures as none of the parties in the state commanded confidence of the People,

In the second letters Surjeet wrote to the Prime Minister, he said, it is over a month since I addressed a letter to you, urging you to accord top priority to the Punjab problem. While emphatically stating that a political initiative coupled with administrative measures will have to be taken on a war footing aimed at isolating the extremists, we had made it simply clear that the present election date should be adhered to, Besides, I had enumerated certain issues which lay at the root of the Punjab problem, resolution of which would generate a renewed enthusiasm among people thereby ensuring. Their participation in the electoral process, unfortunately I have failed in my attempts to convince the government of the urgency.”

In this letter dated Avgust3, 1991 Surjeet also pointed out that there was increased coordination between the extremists in Punjab and Kashmir.

Surjeet also suggested the convening of a meeting with the express purpose of placing the government’s action plan before these part is to solicit their opinion and evolve a consensus.” Given such an approach even the moderate Akalis can be persuaded to give up positions and made to join the mainstream political pinion in the country.

He wrote: “Such an initiative will arm the patriotic masses in the state to take up cudgels against the extremists and separatists. This will also help to improve and even ease the situation in Kashmir, In case I fail to, receive a favorable reply from you immediately, we will be constrained to independently move to convene a convention to discuss this issue.”

The fourth letter Surjeet wrote the Prime Minister on September 27, 1991. He expressed his concern over the decision of the Sikh organizations to boycott the elections in Punjab and banning of the rally in Ludhiana on September 2,

Surjeet wrote, “since you came to power, in the absence of any direction or a policy towards Punjab, the extremists have succeeded in rallying all the Akali groups behind them and even on the slogan of boycott of elections. Iisa very dangerous development and if this is allowed to be pursued Punjab may become another Kashmir. If all the Akali groups boycott the elections it cannot be held in a peaceful atmosphere. It will be the same type of democratic process which can result in the separatist dominating the power.”

In this leters, Surjeet suggested streamlining of the state administration, immediate solution to the political issues and some economic package.

He emphasized, “If these things are done I am sure that within Two months a radical change can be brought about in the situation and confidence can be created among the people to come forward actively to oppose the extremist and to restore democratic process.”

The Prime Minister, PV Narasimha Rao, replied to this letter on October 5, 1991. He said in the letter, “the suggestions made by you are very useful, and I hope 1 shall continue to receive your cooperation.” Again on October 21, 1991 Surjeet wrote to the Prime Minister, “I have come to the conclusion that you do not have any priority for Punjab and everything is left the bureaucracy to deal with. And they only tackle it is a law and order problem. In that also they have failed. If you can send somebody to Ludhiana you will be able to understand. What type of terror and fear prevail there And it can lead to very serious repercussions.

In his letter of October 31, 1991 Surjeet again referred to the deteriorating law and order situation and the spread of militancy in the districts of Ropar, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Patiala with Ludhiana suffering the most.

On January 19,1992, Surjeet wrote another letter to the Prime Minister emphasizing the need for giving a political package before the issuing the poll notification on January 24.

Surjeet wrote, today is the last day because after the issue of notification tomorrow, no announcement can be made by the government. I do not know what the bureaucracy is reporting to you. The situation in Punjab is going to further that new scenario emerge which means that the extremists will have an open platform supported by these sections of moderate Akalis and the situation might reach the same stage as that of Kashmir. The basic difference between Punjab and Kashmir has been that the people by and large have been opposed to separatism and terrorism. They want peace to be restored. They have been putting up resistance against the extremists in spite of difficulties created by the government and the harassment of the police. That resistance is likely to get paralyzed.”

Surjeet warned, “If the government is thinking by their boycott it will be able to manage some seats for the Congress it will prove disastrous in the present situation. It will lead to further polarization and strengthening of terrorism.”

Surjeet emphasized to the Prime Minister, “I request you to take immediate action today so that the forces fighting against extremism and terrorism are strengthened and the game of those threatening the unity of the country are foiled. IF you fail to act today the consequences are going to be disastrous. Since the decision lies in your hands it is upon you to act.”

Surjeet regretted that the Central government failed to heed his pleas and fell victim to the pressures of certain vested interests like Bhajan Lal Chief Minister, Haryana,

He maintained that the Center could not escape the responsibility for the present day situation in Punjab. The Congress must be defeated in Punjab, he said.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 28, 1992