LUDHIANA: Beant Singh, Punjab Chief Minister, said here that Akalis would not be allowed to disturb the peace of the state.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a function organized to celebrate one year of his government Radio, TV and film artists regaled the audience. A large number of people had come from mural areas, they listened to the Chief Minister with attention, braving the cold.

The Chief Minister was ad dressed as “Mukh sewak,” “Messiah of peace” and the “Roshni daminara” (pillar of light) by his colleagues, who took part in the function.

The Chief Minister said the Akalis had already done great harm to the state. The Akalis should not disturb the peace of the state rather they should help in its development, he said.

Beant Singh asked Parkash Singh Badal, a former Chief Minister, to give up three official security Gypsies provided to him, by the Stale government.

Thanking the people of the state for their cooperation he assured them that there would be no letup in the efforts to fight militancy in the next year.

Beant Singh said the state government could not be complacent on the issue of law and order in the state, The fight against the militants would be further intensified, he said.

Beant Singh said there was a reign Of terror when the elections to the Vidhan Sabha and the Lok Sabha were held in Punjab. Bur with the wholehearted cooperation of the people of the state, peace and democratic process was restored to the grassroots.

He said the state government had decided to lay more emphasis on the development of the state. A sum of Rs 200 crore would be spent for rural development as against Rs 100 crore. Besides, urban areas would also be developed. Provision of drinking water supply, sewerage would be made and roads repaired in the towns. The major towns would get a facelift.

The Chief Minister said a flyover would be constructed at Anandpur Sahib:

Beant Singh made a fervent appeal for maintaining the communal amity in the state, He said Hindus and Sikhs were inseparable and attempts to divide the claims of the Akali factions of having a majority up to 80% in the panchayat elections.

He said the BJP was responsible for the communal notes in different states, Beant Singh also alleged that the BJP and the Akali Dal) were hand in glove with each other.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 19, 1993