BHATINDA, Punjab, India: Parkash Singh Badal and Amarinder Singh, leader of the Akali Dal Legislature party, ruled out the possibility of any talk with the Centre. Mr. Badal said that the Sikhs have no faith in the credibility of the Central government. He asserted that the Centre must accept the demands of the Sikhs in order to establish its credibility. Amarinder Singh denied of having made any offer for talks. Referring to the statement of Manjit Singh Calcutta, General Secretary of U.A.D. welcoming the offer of talks, Amarinder Singh said that these may be his personal views as this issue had never been discussed in the U.A.D. meeting. More over the Center was not aware the demands of the Sikhs before the talks could be initiated. Both of them were addressing the Akali workers who had staged Dharna in front of the office of the D.C.

The General Secretary of All India Janata Party, Surinder Mohan also joined the dharna along with his state party workers. Parkash Singh said that U.A.D. has set up a committee to find facts about the killings of the Sikh youths by the police in the fake encounters. He warned the police officials that the President’s Rule will not remain forever. They shall have to pay for their illegal acts one day.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 5, 1988