JALANDHARS: Sikh leader Simranjit Singh Mann Jan 3 said his memorandum to Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar to start talks on the Punjab problem was under Article 51 of the constitution as Sikhs are aspiring for nationhood.
Mann said the article related to honoring of treaties between two states and any state and people aspiring for nationhood as the Sikhs are and quoted a Supreme Court ruling of 1983 which said treaties and obligations between states should be respected
The Akali Dal leader said as far as he was concerned he stood by his memorandum and was ready to talk on that basis. Prime Minister had recently said there could be no compromise at the cost of country’s unity and integrity.
Mann was addressing reporters in this Punjab city after briefing the general secretaries of his party Akali Dal (Mann) about his talks with the prime minister last week.
Mann who was last month authorised by various factions of Akali Dal to talk to government said neither was he a mediator between the government and the militants and nor had he any mandate from the militants to hold talks on their behalf. He hoped that prime minister will invite militants to pave the way for next round of talks but said the prime minister will have to make contacts with the militants.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 11, 1991
