CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal has demanded simultaneous implementation of the Indira Gandhi Award of 1971 and Rajiv Longowal Accord of 1983 to settle the interstate disputes between the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana. He was addressing media persons at “meet the press’ program organized by the Chandigarh Press Club here last week. When asked whether the alliance partner BJP would oppose the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, Bansi Lal said that he was sure that the Haryana unit of the BJP would oppose the move. While discussing the state of economy he ruled out any further imposition of fresh taxes in the state in near future. He hoped that by streamlining, the tax system, the revenue deficit caused by prohibition could be covered. On prohibition he said that the social benefits of prohibition not be measured in monetary terms. Asked whether prohibition would lead to creation of liquor mafia in the state, Bansi Lal said that such mafias could only exist outside the state till the time he was at the helm of affairs. He said that the Central Government has yet to give reply to his request for grant to offset the deficit caused by prohibition.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 24, 1996
