By Our Correspondent JALLANDHAR: Home Minister Buta Singh said here on July 3 that Akali Dal would not be allowed to participate in the elections unless it amends its constitution declaring faith in the constitution of the country and in democracy secularism and socialism.
Talking to newsmen he declared that the need for such a declaration arose when the basic principles of the constitution were endangered. “According to the new rules, the Akalis have to amend their constitution,” he added,
The Home Minister declared that the elections in Punjab would be held along with those in the rest of the country because “the atmosphere here is conclusive now.”
He said the government had not made up its mind about whether to conduct the elections of the state legislature with those of the Parliament.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala has announced that his party would amend its constitution and thus take part in the elections. He is expected to contest from the Barnala constituency.
Other factions of the Akali Dal are known to be firmly opposed to any such amendment to their constitution.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 7, 1989
