CHANDIGARH: Chandra Shekhar said that Akali Dal president Mann had not raised the issue of Khalistan during their meeting last month.
Speaking to newsmen here the prime minister said the date for the second round of talks had not been fixed so far and it was for Mann to decide.
On Mann’s statement that the prime minister should now first talk to the militants Shekhar said let Mann bring the militants.
He reiterated his stand that he was ready to talk to anyone to solve the lingering Punjab problem even if their views were divergent.
When his attention was drawn to statements of Panthic Committee and other militant organisations that their goal was Khalistan a Sikh homeland Shekhar said even then a dialogue was necessary and bloodshed had to be stopped.
During the talks we can make our points and tell them that there demand is unreasonable he said.
But one thing should be clear and that is let no challenges be thrown at each other he said.
Asked to comment on Mann’s statement that the prime minister must consolidate his position in relation to his main supporter the congress party the communist party of India (Marxist) and the night wing Bharatiya Janata party before talking to him he said Mann should not worry about that. I am heading the government and | have full authority to talk to anyone he said
Chandra Shekhar said the situation had improved comparatively in Punjab and Chandigarh and the killings had also come down
The prime minister who flew here on a day’s visit laid the foundation stone of a medical college and a water supply scheme
Article extracted from this publication >> January 25, 1991
