CHANDIGARH: The seemingly abrupt postponement of elections in Punjab at the last moment has not come as a complete surprise according to a press release of the Chandigarh based PHRO. The release said the boycott of elections in Punjab from the very start by the Congress (I) and the vehemence with which it insisted on delinking of the poll from the rest of India and the way the Election Commission had been making contradictory statements it was fairly obvious that should the Congress (I) gain power at the Centre Sikhs in the Punjab would be in for a still harsher treatment. The deployment of the Army and declaring Punjab as a disturbed area are pointers in that direction.

The newly installed Congress (I) govt at the Centre has now decided to put into operation a plan hatched earlier to exterminate Sikh youth under the pretext or restoring peaceful conditions conducive to the conduct of fair elections. Apart from deployment of over 600 companies (approximate strength 125000) of paramilitary forces army in strength has been deployed in Punjab for this purpose. This plan of operation was hatched at the highest level by the Congress party under the guidance of late Rajiv Gandhi Having come into power the Congress (I) govthas now decided to execute the plan as a first issue of the new govt It is expected to follow the pattern of Operation Wood rose but with killing of Sikh youth on a much larger scale and atrocities on Sikhs to subdue them.

The above apprehensions of a crackdown in Punjab by the security forces is also reflected by the press (a cutting from Daily Ajit dated June 22, 1991 from Jalandhar is attached). This news envisages a house to house search of all the 12188 villages of Punjab to commence anytime.

Elections in Punjab for Parliament and Assembly were to be held on June 2291 but these were cancelled on June 2191 at 0230 hrs. IST. People of India came to know about it on June 2191 at 8:00 a.m. through news on Radio and T.V.

Punjab Human Rights Organization (PHRO) makes a fervent appeal to you and to your organization to intervene and compel the govt of India to refrain from executing such a nefarious & sinister plan of genocide of Sikh youth and annihilation of a proud minority who are fighting for their just rights

Article extracted from this publication >> August 9, 1991