NEW DELHI: The Akali Dal (Longowal) has strongly pleaded for elections in Punjab after the expiry of current spell of president’s rule in the state on November 10.
Addressing a press conference here, the Akali DAI (L) president, Tota Singh said a 10member delegation of the party which called on V.P. Singh on Tuesday said there should be no further extension of president’s rule in the state.
Asked if free and fair polls would be possible in Punjab in view of the separatist violence there, Jathedar Tota Singh said it was the duty of the government to ensure free and fair polls.
He said the people of Punjab had been alienated enough from the administration. There was a gap between the government and the people. It is high time the people of the state are given their democratic rights, he said.
When a reporter asked if the centre would greet to their demand for elections when major political parties including the Congress I, the left parties and the BJP had expressed their opposition, Tota Singh that the Congress I, the left parties and the BJP had no base in the state.
He said the people of Punjab would ensure that all the Akali factions came together when the situation so arranted.
The delegation which called on the prime minister also demanded that the work on the Sutlej Yamuna Canal should be stopped immediately pending implementation of the Longowal accord.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 21, 1990
