CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Beant Singh is now in favor of the Indian government making a unilateral announcement in respect of Punjab demands. In an interview the chief minister this week said that the government should not hold any talks with Akalis other groups on the issues. In the first instance, the government could transfer Chandigarh to Punjab. Later other areas could be transferred to Punjab. The river water issue could wait, he said. The chief minister clarified that he never stated that Prime Minister Narasimha Rao should visit Punjab only if he had to announce transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab. “Punjab belongs to him and I told him he could visit the state anytime. But it will be better if he makes some announcement accepting some of the Punjab demands.” The chief minister also clarified he never advocated repeal of the Gurdwara act. He had merely suggested amendments; Beant Singh was of the view that the Indian government should ban all communal organizations including the Akali Dal groups. According to political circles, the chief minister in the course of his recent observations has indicated that he is no longer a vocal critic of dissident Congress (I) leader Arjun Singh. His support to a ban on communal organizations makes it appear that he has turned soft towards Arjun Singh. He also said that Rao loyalist Surinder Single never consulted him before issuing a joint statement on behalf of certain Congress (I) members of parliament against Arjun Singh.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 26, 1993
