NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party demanded the Federal government give a clear signal to militants in Punjab that there was no scope for pursuing soft options against them and that stringent steps be taken in Kashmir otherwise the valley would face the fate of Punjab.
In a statement here Jan 28 the party general secretary Krishanlal Sharma said the strike call given by militants in Punjab on republic day was a direct national insult and a challenge to the unity and integrity of the country.
He said these militant actions clearly indicated that they are not at all interested in any dialogue under the framework of the constitution and are determinedly pursuing the path of confrontation with an ulterior motive to disintegrate the country. Sharma said that it was unfortunate that instead of restoring confidence in law abiding citizens in the state by adopting stringent measures the government is yielding to the dictates of the militants.
He said the Centre’s repeated offer of a dialogue with the militants and also the release of persons who had been security risk definitely sends wrong signals and gives an impression of the weakness of the government.
Expressing deep concern and anguish over the bomb blast at the public meeting addressed by party president L K Advani in Bombay Sunday he said that this was a deliberate attempt to disrupt the public meeting and harm party leaders.
Sharma appealed to party workers to observe peace and harmony at cost despite such provocations.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 1, 1991
