NEW DELHI: Simranjit Singh Mann President Akali Dal on Monday demanded withdrawal of the Armed Forces from Punjab and that elections are held there.
Mann a former police officer told a press conference here the army was deployed in Punjab since the V.P.Singh government and its operation “Rakshak” (protection) there was against the constitution. But he said Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar has been claiming there was no deployment of the armed forces in the State for law and order duties.
He said elections were an essential component of democracy the people of Punjab should not be denied their right to franchise.
Mann said the Delhi unit of his party will contest all the seven Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) seats there.
Asked if he would be able to influence were held in the state Mann said” it is for the government to ensure this”
“I only exercise moral authority on the people” he said adding that it was the responsibility of the center to guarantee protection of life and property of the people and create a situation free of violence.
In recent months Mann had tried to bring about a negotiation between the militants and the Indian federal government His efforts fell through with some militant groups questioning his moves.
He said political parties who were opposing elections in Punjab had no grass root support and hadbecome “irrelevant”.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 12, 1991
