NEW DELHI: The Congress (I) government Sept.17 moved a statutory resolution in Parliament seeking six months extension of president’s rule in Punjab beyond November 10.
Home Minister S B Chavan “assured” the house that effective steps would be taken to build up a tempo to restore the confidence of the people for holding fair polls.
Chavan said the state Governor Surendra Nath felt appropriate atmosphere free from “coercion and terror” would be necessary for conducting polls in the state.
Chavan said that the governor who had just taken over had on the basis of his assessment of the situation stated that law and order atmosphere in Punjab continued to be difficult and the level of violence high.
During the current year up till Aug.31 the minister said 1799 persons including 333 policemen had been killed.
A very special and sustained effort is required to create such confidence in the minds of the people as would enable them to come out and cast their votes fearlessly” the home minister said.
Bill to cancel poll passes
The Lok Sabha Monday night passed a bill providing for the cancellation of general elections in Punjab amidst walkout by the entire opposition barring the left members who were demanding that the government come out with a firm date for holding the poll.
Atal Behan Vajpaye (BJP) and George Fernandes (JD) repeatedly interrupted minister of state for law and justice P R Kumarmangalamm to demand a definite date for the Punjab elections Failing to get a firm date Sl from the minister they trooped out with their party members. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members also following suit.
As the members left Minister of Law and Justice K. Vijay Bhaskar Reddy said an all-party meeting would be convened very soon to discuss the Punjab problem and holding the elections in the state.
The minister said Govt thought to bring a special bill for the cancellation of elections as it had never happened earlier. This is for the first time that general elections in a state were cancelled he said.
As regards the postponement of elections in Punjab he said the decision was taken solely by the chief election commissioner.
The government will announce afresh date for elections in Punjab on Wednesday home (interior) minister S B Chavan told Parliament minutes after the house despite an opposition walk out approved a bill cancelling polls in the state.
The opposition parties — Janata Dal Bharatiya Janata Party Telugu Desam Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Communist Party of India walked out after insisting that the Govt announce a definite date for fresh elections.
It was then that Chavan who is also the leader of the upper house of parliament got up to make the government stand clear
The bill for cancellation of elections in Punjab scheduled to be held on Sept.27 already passed by Lok Sabha was approved by the house by voice vote.
Law and Justice Minister Vijayabhaskara Reddy said the Govt would consult all opposition parties before fixing the date and that a congenial atmosphere would have to be created for holding polls in the state. :
Article extracted from this publication >> September 20, 1991
