NEW DELHI, India, April At least 170 people have been 3, (Reuter): The acting Jathedar of Punjab’s Sikhs said today that he favored direct talks with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s government to seek an end to the violent separatist campaign in the State, the Press Trust of India (PTI) said.
Jathedar Darshan Singh, acting Head Priest of the Akal Takht ( seat of spiritual authority) said a solution could come only through direct talks with the Sikh community.
“But the Centre (New Delhi) has to take the initiative by removing the irritants”, he told PTI in an interview.
Killed this year in violence set off by antisocial elements.
Singh said he felt the climate for dialogue had improved in the past few months. But he said he would to himself talk to New Delhi, “The. Community will throw up leader to voice its point of view and suggest a way out that would be acceptable to all the organizations”.
He said the present Punjab State Government headed by Surjit Singh Barnala had progressively alienated Sikh’ youth. “It is not possible for this administration to work out a solution”, he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 10, 1987
