CHANDIGARH: MPs of the Akali Dal (M) will take oath as members of Lok Sabha on Dec. 22 when the V.P. Govt is due to secure a vote of confidence in the House. This was announced by Gurtej Singh spokesman of UADM after a meeting of Party MPs. The meeting was attended by 5 of the 8 MPs. Mr Mann could not attend as he was indisposed with high blood pressure. His father Joginder S. Mann a former speaker of the Punjab Assembly presided. Atinderpal Singh is still behind hars while Dhian Singh Mand was absent. Gurtej Singh said the party MPs would set out for Delhi on Dec 21 and visit Gurdwara Bangla Sahib.
We will support the govt in the confidence vote he said Referring to the outcome of the all party meeting in Delhi GurtejSingh said they would help the govt in finding a solution to the Punjab problem.
He said the govt had agreed to withdraw the 59th amendment to the constitution, take action against the guilty of 1984 massacres. For the first time we have seen a couple of friendly faces on govt side Gurtej Singh said referring to the presence of I K Gujral and K P Unnikrishnan union ministers at the all-party meet.
The UAD leader cautioned that they were not able to determine if this was a false start but we perceive it as a good augury. The govt has not been able to take a bold decision after VP’s visit to Darbar Sahib. He said they expected the normalization process to be quick and that the steps suggested by UAD to be accepted.
Gurtej Singh also sought the abolition of capital punishment in India as had been recommended. by the UN. The party directed its MPs to work to secure the release of Harjinder Singh Jinda and Sukdev Singh now facing execution in the General Vaidya murder case,
Hesaid that AISSF leaders Manjit Singh and Harminder Singh Sandhu had assured full support to the UADM policies and programs. He also said the party supported the Bandh called by AISSF on Jan. 1 in protest against the police repression. He asked the govt to avoid confrontation on the issue. About the AISSF stand on Khalistan, he said we neither support it nor oppose it.
Gurtej Singh demanded polls in Punjab at the earliest. Democratic processes must be restored to end individual and state terrorism, he said, and described as counterproductive the attempts by certain parties to have the Punjab elections put off. They are becoming suspect in the eyes of the public and will not be able to wean away the people from the UAD, he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 22, 1989
