NEW DELHI: Former Punjab Chief Minister Sujit Singh Barnala told the press club meeting that the Anandpur Sahib resolution is neither similar to Muslim league resolution nor it had been discarded by Sarkaria commission on center state relations.
The Anandpur Sahib resolution wanted an autonomous state within the constitution of India where as Muslim League’s resolution was for a separate country. Addressing a press conference Barnala said that it appeared to him that Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made a wrong statement at Simla at the instance of his advisors and was planning to use this Sikh card in the forthcoming elections of Lok Sabha.
He was surprised at the manner center was dealing with Punjab problems, The stand taken by the government as expressed by the governor S.S. Ray that Parkash ‘Singh Badal would not be released as long as his stand on Khalistan is not cleared. It was insulting Barnala said. Neither Badal or anybody also including himself would give in writing their Nationalistic credentials. He demanded the release of Badal and other Akali leaders.
It may be recalled that Badal Tohra and other Akali leaders were arrested when Surjit Singh Barnala was Chief Minister. It was presumed that arrests were made at his instance.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 5, 1989
