NEW DELHI: The ruling Janata Dal which was reduced to minority following withdrawal of support by the BJP last month has split with Mr Chander Shekhar being elected leader of the dissident faction.
The Opposition Congress (I) was quick to welcome Mr Shekhar’s election and to promise him support in forming a government to replace Prime Minister V.P.Singh. Mr Shekhar is scheduled to meet Mr Rajiv Gandhi sometime on Tuesday to work out modalities of the cooperation between the two formations.
Mr V.P. Singh’s removal as Prime Minister is now a formality with the Lok Sabha meeting on November 7 to provide him with an opportunity to prove majority support for him. The Prime Minister is fully aware of his unusual position. He, nevertheless, wants to use the forum to highlight issues that he thinks will stand him in good stead in the event of a midterm election.
Behind the scenes activities unleashed by the withdrawal of the BJP support to the Government on the Ayodhia issue culminated on Monday with the Chander Shekhar group sending a message to the dominant V.P. Singh group of the Janata Dal to either elect Chander Shekhar as leader or face the prospect of a split. Mr Shekhar and his followers later in the day met at Mr Devi Lal’s residence where Shekhar was elected leader of the dissident group.
The dissident group claimed the support of 69 members of Lok Sabha and 14 of Rajya Sabha while George Fernandes on behalf of the dominant faction claimed that 109 M.P.s had attended the Officially convened party meeting which unanimously reposed faith in the leadership of Mr V.P. Singh who was further authorised to take such steps as he deemed fit to deal with the present crisis. The officially called meeting of the ruling party was boycotted by the dissident faction.
The Janata Dal spokesman Mr Jaipal Reddy later declared that the party with the approval of its chief S.R. Bomai had expelled Mr Shekhar, 24 other members of Lok Sabha and five of the Rajya Sabha for antiparty activities. Others removed include former Union Minister of State S.K. Sahai, Mr Yashwant Sinha, Maneka Gandhi, Dr Sanjay Singh and Kamal Morarka.
Meanwhile, two more ministers Mr Janeshwar Mishra and Mr Ones led by Dharam Singh Kashtiwal. Sukhwinder Singh Pappu, Sarbjit Singh, Kulwinder Singh Kind a and Narain Singh. The fallout of the increased use of landmines and booby-traps by militants had led to total suspension of night patrolling by the security forces, Even during daytime, it is said, the militants openly roam about in villages addressing the public in village gurdwaras. At many places the militants “invited” the security forces for an armed duel.
Another cause of concern for the security forces is the breakdown of the rural defence system manned by special police officials. There are 54 such SPO posts in Batala district. But these pickets have failed to serve any useful purpose, according to the police. The pickets have more or less become a liability and have failed to meet the challenge of the militants who strike at their targets at will. These pickets are not being wound up solely for the reason that such an action will further spell demoralisation.
In September the Government of India tried its hand at inducting the National Security Guards who had to be quickly withdrawn because they failed to serve the purpose of killing, injuring or arresting any militant.
CHANDIGARH: At least 24 people, including a Lt Gen of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan (BITFK) Balkar Singh alias Fauji, were killed in Punjab on Nov 5.
Fauji along with seven other nationalists was killed in a fierce encounter in Taran police district.
Elsewhere, three security men were among 17 persons killed and five militants nabbed, in the state during the last 24 hours, the director general of Punjab police, KPS Gill, told PTI here Monday. A home guard personnel also deserted his post and took away a large quantity of ammunition.
Reports said the militants ambushed the security men who were proceeding to Kapurthala from Sri Hargobindpur near village Butala.
The killed have been identified as police constable Bawa Massiah and special police officers Sewa Singh and Harjit Singh.
A civilian Harjit Singh, Granthi of Gurdwara, was killed in the cross firing. The injured, SPO Buta Ram and the civilian Banta Ram were admitted to a hospital.
AnSI Parkash Chand and head constable Norang Singh were shot dead at Loht Badhi police post near Pharmari village in Sangrur district, police said here.
Two persons, Gurmit Singh and Ramesh Singh, were gunned down by some militants in Rehahi Khurd village near Batala.
Militants also shot dead a woman, Sumitra Devi, in Kathunangal town of Majitha district, police said here.
An unidentified man was killed in an encounter near village Bhaian under Verowal police station in Amritsar district Monday afternoon. One Ak47 rifle and some ammunition was recovered from the spot.
The security forces also shot dead two of the three unidentified Pakistani intruders in the Dera
Baba Nanak sector of the IndoPak border in Gurdaspur district.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 9, 1990
