NEW DELHI: The Punjab Congress (I) has supported the demand for reeducation of the Army in Punjab to restore the confidence to the people and enable the state administration to have the upper hand against the militants.
Beant Singh president of the district called on the Union Home Minister S.B.Chavan Sept.2 to draw the latter’s attention to the worsening law and order situation in the state. He told the Home Minister that the deduction of the Army in the wake of the postponement of the Punjab elections had boosted militant activities.
The Prime Minister is believed to have expressed anxiety over the sudden deduction of the Army and is said to have told a BJP delegation the other day that he too was not fully aware of the circumstances under which the withdrawal of the armed forces was ordered.
It is perhaps for the first time that the state Congress (I) chief took up the issue with the Center and pressed for the deployment of the Army.
Beant Singh is believed to have told the Home Minister that a number of villagers had told him during the past few weeks that the withdrawal of the Army had increased the sense of insecurity among the people.
Beant Singh is distressed by the call given by certain Sikh organizations to observe Punjab bandh on Sept.7 to protest against the killing of Gurjant Singh Rajasthani a hardcore militant.
Talking to newsmen he regretted the Akalis became a party to the deplorable call. It was an insult to Punjabi at he added.
He appealed to the people of Punjab to ignore the bandh call and urged the state Governor Surendra Nath to take stern measures to frustrate the militants’ attempt to “hold the state to ransom”.
On Punjab elections Beant Singh said his party wanted the annulment of the poll and a fresh notification. The Congress (I) would participate in the poll.
He was in favor of all nationalist parties including the Akalis committed to national unity and territorial integrity of the country to form a joint front to contest the elections. Every party must share interests to defeat the secessionist elements in the elections he added.
Beant Singh said he would take the initiative to forge a united front of all nationalist parties to jointly contest the poll. The proposal had come from the CPI and the three major parties the Congress (I) the BJP and the CPM had agreed to contest or boycott the poll jointly. But later under instructions from Rajiv Gandhi the Congress (I) unilaterally boycotted the poll.
Beant Singh said it was strange that Akalis talked of restoring democracy in Punjab while boycotting the poll. This was nothing but “double talk” and must be condemned.
The Anandpur conclave he said would encourage militancy. The Akalis must accept responsibility for this he added
Article extracted from this publication >> September 13, 1991
