AMRITSAR: Union Human Re- Sources Development Minister Ash Singh has said that the Rajiv Longowal Accord signed in 1985 was still relevant and the problems coming in the way of its implementation could be sorted out.
He was talking to media persons in the VIP lounge of the Raja Sansi international airport. He said ‘Punjab seemed t0 have come out of its dark chapter and the democratic integration of the state had already taken place.
The Beant Singh Government was not making all efforts to bring about trial normalcy, he added.
Asked whether a Central pack- age for Punjabi was still required, he said it was for the state government and the people of Punjab the Center for whatever was required to achieve total normalcy.
Giving the principal credit for the return of peace in the state to the people, he said in a democracy it was the people’s perception which decided matters. The people of Punjab realized the futility of the violent “exercise” and Congress leaders, including Beant Singh and his associates, gave the people’s perception room to become reality.
Asked whether the variance in perception between him and Prime Minister Narasimha Rao on contain issues had been sorted out, he said he did not have any differences with the Prime Ministers: They were the creations of the press, he reported.
On the activities of dissident Punjab Member of Parliament Jagmeet Singh Brar, he said he would not like to comment on any Congress leader in public. On being pressed by media person, he reiterated his stand that discipline had to be maintained within the party, but it should not be enforced selectively.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 8, 1994
