MUDKI (FEROZEPUR): The “Pratigya Conference,” organized by the dissident Congress leader and Member of Parliament Jagmeet Singh Brar, sought full autonomy for Punjab and demanded that articles 356 and 357 of the Indian Constitution be repealed which deprive the states of their autonomy. Large number of persons was present despite the intensive measures taken by the police to prevent people from attending the conference. People sneaked through the footpaths in the fields to reach the venue, No vehicle was however allowed to pass. A resolution was passed on this ‘Occasion that stressed upon financial and democratic decentralization and that the Center’s power should be limited to only foreign affairs, defence and communication.
Brar while supporting the resolution said that the genesis of federal system was based on coordination and independence. He said that the people of Punjab were not demanding “independence, “but they certainly felt that the Constitution had been reduced to a mere ritualism as far as the state of Punjab was concerned. He said that the grant of “autonomy” to Punjab would fulfill the physco cultural aspirations of local people.
Brar announced that he would start the third phase of his “Lok Youdh Morcha,” from January 1, 1995, by organizing public meetings in each and every village of the state, to mobilize the masses in support of the demand for autonomy.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 23, 1994
