Badal CHANDIGARH: Mr. Prakash Singh Badal, the president of the Akali Dal (Badal) has said that the Government should have a dialogue with the militants to find solutions to the state’s problems.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the former Chief Minister said during the last Lok Sabha elections some militants had taken part in political activity.
“There was need to involve others in a dialogue” he added.
Asked whether his party would join the committee announced by the Prime Minister, Mr. V.P. Singh on Wednesday to assist and advise the Governor in managing the affairs of the troubled state. Mr. Badal said he would wait till he knew the powers of the committee before reacting.
The Akali Dal (B) president said the state should be given antinomy on the basis of the Anandpur Sahib resolution. He said all other measures, had failed to solve the problem. President’s Rule too had not succeeded in bringing back normalcy to the state.
The Akali leader insisted that for meaningful talks, some irritants which still existed should be removed. He regretted that the announcements made by the prime minister at the January 11 Ludhiana rally had not been implemented. Army deserters had not yet been fully rehabilitated and those involved in the November 1984 riots had not been punished.
He demanded a general amnesty for those under detention on political grounds. He blamed the bureaucracy for the delay in the implementation of the Prime Minister’s promises.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 23, 1990
