Jalandhar: Punjab chief minister Beant Singh said here that the Punjab problem was more of “law and order” than political and that the state government would not permit the situation to be vitiated.”
The chief minister said no time frame could be fixed for resolving the Chandigarh problem. He also said that the river water issue would be resolved through talks among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. He thus indicated that indicated that Delhi is in no hurry to announce transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and the reference of the river water issue to the Indian Supreme Court.
Beant Singh said the main priority before the government was to restore “peace” in Punjab.
The chief minister also did not indicate when his government would release Akali leaders who had been detained on the eve of the February 19 election to frustrate their” boycott plans.” He said Akali could be released if they gave an assurance that they would behave like “good citizens” after their release.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 13, 1992
