KANPUR: Former Prime Minister and SJP leader Chandra Shekhar said it was unfortunate that the Akalis in Punjab had reiterated their demand for a separate Sikh homeland within the country.
Talking to newsmen Shekhar said I have not read the resolution adopted by the six Akali factions at Amritsar recent demanding a separate Sikh homeland but it was unfortunate and their demand ‘was not justified.
He urged the Akali leaders to reconsider their demand for a separate homeland as it would not be of any benefit for them such demands would not solve the real issues or problems he added
While admitting that terrorism had been crushed in the state Shekhar said the Punjab problem had still not been solved. He said the problem still exists as was evident from the demand of the Akalis.
I don’t know what benefits the union government and the state government would get by making such small claims he said.
Signing of the GATT agreement Shekhar said would not help the country particularly the youth and the farmers. One could come out of the agreement but with the passage of time the damage caused to the country would not be fulfilled Shekhar said in reply to a question.
On the proposed visit of the Prime Minister P_V Narasimha Rao to the United States Shekhar said that it was difficult for him to say what Rao was going to discuss but his visit in the present circumstances was not beneficial for the country Leave it up to the Prime Minister to reconsider his decision for his visit to the state Shekhar added
He reminded that the disintegration of the USSR was still fresh in our minds and if the Rao government remained adamant on its decision regarding GATT India could also face the same fate.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 13, 1994
