DHUDIKE (FARIDKOT): The Prime Minister Mr Chandra Shekhar ruled out the immediate holding of assembly elections in Punjab He declared that the political process in the state would be restored only after the restoration of peace here.
Mr Chandra Shekhar was accompanied by half-a-dozen other national leaders and the governor which included Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet (CPM) Mr Balram Jakhar (Congress-I) Mr Inder Kumar Gujral (Janata Dal) Mr Inderjit Gupta (CPI) Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee (BJP)
The Union Minister of State for Home Mr Subodh Kant Sahai also told newsmen that there was no thinking in the government at present to restore the political process in Punjab which had been under President’s rule for over three-and-a-half years.
Mr Chandra Shekhar asserted that the government’s writ would prevail in Punjab and it would do everything possible to ensure this.
He said the government was prepared to initiate a dialogue with anyone to end the Punjab problem.
Asked if talks were possible with militants he observed that he did not know any militant leader who was willing to enter the negotiation process. He disclosed in reply to a question that he was in contact with some people but did not know to which group they belonged He said he would continue to expand these contacts till a solution was arrived at.
When asked about his contact with Akali Dal President Mr S.S Mann Mr Chander Shekhar replied that Mr Mann had written one letter to him in reply to which he also wrote a letter.
Mr Chandra Shekhar stated that Punjab was facing a crisis of faith which needed to be restored. He said talks would be held only within the framework of Indian constitution.
At his press conference Chandra Shekher declared that violence was not going to solve any problem “nobody should consider himself God in India and put somebody’s life in his hands” he said. He remarked that he understood the sentiment of anger but anger should not make a person insane and prompt him to commit suicide He said it was the duty of every Indian to accept the challenge posed by insane people indulging in violence.
Appealing to the youth to give up arms the prime minister said there was no need to pull the trigger for finding solution to a problem when the path for negotiations was open.
Language of love and dialogue should not be misinterpreted as a sign of weakness. In the same breath he hit out at his critics who said the government was not clear about Punjab and had no plan to deal with the Punjab problem he said the government was very much clear about its aims and plans.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 1, 1991
