FEROZEPUR: The Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, while addressing a largely attended mass-loaning function held in the local food grain market here recently, said that his government had succeeded in curbing militancy in the state to a large extent. He said in the next six months, the state would be completely freed of the menace.
Beant Singh alleged that the Panthic Akali factions had boycotted the Parliamentary elections in the state at the insistence of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence because militant outfits backed by that country had threatened to eliminate their families if they took part in elections.
He said the militants had no love for the Sikh Panth and the demand for Khalistan was also at the insistance of foreign powers that wanted to destroy the flourishing democratic system in India, He said the militants were only working to make money through looting and extortions. Referring to the thwarted Panthic rally at Ludhiana, the Chief Minister said a democratic government could not allow inflammatory speeches.
Ridiculing Gurcharan Singh Tohra’s demand for withdrawal of forces from Punjab, the Chief Minister said his demand was ironic since he had been demanding CRPF guard’s for personal security.
He asked Tohra to explain to Sikh masses his achievements and services to the panth during his 17 years of president ship of SGPC. He said all he had done was provide shelter to militants and criminals in the Gurdwaras.
He disclosed amidst cheers that the government orders to auction government lands in border areas in the state had been withdrawn and such lands would be allotted to landless farmers. He also distributed Rs 3.13 crore among 745 villagers, out of which Rs 80.85 lakh would be given as subsidies.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 18, 1992
