TARN TARAN: The Punjab governor Gen. O.P Malhotra Jan 26 assured the people that the government would soon send more forces to the small towns in the state to infuse a sense of confidence among the people. It would also provide job opportunities to the youth to wean them away from militancy he added.
Addressing a gathering at the Republic Day function organized here the governor said the objective of holding it in the historical town of Tarn Taran was to reassure the people of the region.
Meanwhile in Amritsar Tarn Taran and nearby towns and in the villages complete bandh was observed in compliance with the call for a 36-hour bandh by the panthic committee led by the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan (BTFK) chief Gurbachan Singh Manochahal and allied militant outfits.
However despite a call by the militants hundreds of government employees participated in the celebrations and the sports stadium the venue of the function was crowded. But participation by the common people was negligible. The district administration had made elaborate arrangements to take the employees there
Gen Malhotra said additional Para-military forces which had been pulled out of the state in the wake of the Ayodhya crisis were being brought back to improve the flaw and order situation. If the youth were ready to come back into the Indian mainstream the state government would deal with them sympathetically he added.
The governor announced a number of employment schemes for the youth of Punjab and said that 10000 people would be soon recruited into the CRPF. The government would establish a special youth welfare and sports department he added.
For the first time there was no participation by schools in Republic Day function.
Militants had asked students not to. However students of different schools staged Bhangra and Giddha the folk dances of Punjab and recited Shabads and sang patriotic songs.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 1, 1991
