LUDHIANA: The Union Agriculture Minister Balram Jakhar called for a united effort to fight the menace of militancy in Punjab. He said the solution to this menace and the Punjab problem lay in the hands of Punjabis and they must act boldly and unitedly for this purpose.
Jakhar was addressing a mass contact function organized by the Congress (I) in Moti Nagar locality of Ludhiana. He accused Pakistan of aiding and abetting the Punjab militants and warned it to stop this interference.
The minister lashed out at the opposition parties in the country such as BJP Janata Dal Lok Dal and even Communists for playing politics of negativism and self-destruction and bringing chaos in the country whenever they came to power. He also deplored the infighting and leg pulling among the Akalis.
Speaking about agriculture he announced that a new policy of crop insurance was being framed by the Government of India to safeguard the interest of the farmers of the country. This scheme would be introduced shortly in one district of each state on a trial basis.
Shamsher Singh Dullo Excise and Taxation Minister speaking on the occasion said that the forces inimical to the interest of the state would be curbed with a strong hand and the Beant Singh government was determined to root out militancy in the state. He appealed the masses to cooperate with the state government in carrying out the development projects launched by the government.
Harnam Dass Johar education Minister said that the present government had taken several steps for the improvement of the education system under the dynamic leadership of Beant Singh Chief Minister Punjab. He said the government was committed to improve the quality of education in the state and ban on recruitment in the government jobs had been lifted.
MALERKOTIA (SANGRUR): Lal Singh, Minister for Health and Family Planning Punjab, while addressing well-attended gatherings at Bhainj Kampan and aider Nagar villages in
Malerkotia assembly constituency recently said that the Punjab problem was the creation of foreign powers that are jealous of the overall development of Punjab Lal Singh while hitting hard at the various factions of the Akali Dal said that the Akali leadership added fuel to the fire by naming the Punjab problem as the religious problems of the Sikhs. He called the Akali leadership was ‘coward’ who had started speaking on dictates of the militants who are the stooges of Pakistan.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1992
