CHANDIGARH: Punjab BIP leader, Madan Mohan Mittal expressed doubts, over the government’s intention to hold elections to the Punjab Assembly as promised by February 15. Addressing a Press conference here Nov 1, Mital said going by the trend, it would seem that the government was not in a mood to advice elections in the state in February. This was obvious from the fat it was not doing enough to create a proper atmosphere for holding free and fair elections, As a matter of fact, the law and order had gone from bad to worse recent in weeks. A new dimension had been added to his situation by Killing of family members of security men who were fighting the militants he said. The writ of the government just did not prevail. The influence and the sulking ability of the militants had increased considerably during the past months. District Ludhiana, the home of the Industry of Punjab, was the worst hit. In astral wealth and industry had migrated on a large scale.
Burning of 31 banks, incidents of kidnap ping and extortion and threats to the life of industrialists had them fleeing from Punjab, he said and added, even the govt at the Center was asking any vision and initiative to solve the Punjab problem. The Prime Minister and the Home Minister had failed to visit Punjab even once to understand the ground realty and to sympathize with the sufferings of the Punjabis.
The Akalis had also failed to address themselves to the real danger and had also failed to condemn innocent killings. They had surrendered to the pressure of the militants. Mitial was also critical of the invitation to S.S. Mann to participate in the meeting of the National Integration Council and non-inclusion of the Punjab and Kashmir issues on the agenda of the meeting, All steps should be taken to en force the writ of the govt, Confidence of the people should be restored by deploying army in the sensitive areas. The Prime Minister and the Home Minister should immediately visit Punjab to understand the {ground realities. A stern warning should be used to Pakistan he said. The media should be used for “national” propaganda Mittal felt
Mittal also said that the so-called “Khula darbars” were serving no useful purpose and should be discontinued. Disposal of cases and grievances of the people was not the main issue involved in the Punjab problem. These could be easily dealt with by the DCs and other officials in a routine manner.
The BIP leader was noncommittal about his parties stand if the govt came forward with another amendment to the Constitution for further extending Presidents rule in Punjab and postponing elections. As of now, his party was against any further extension of Presidents rule and would take part in the elections if they were held.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 8, 1991
