LUDHIANA: Prime Minister Narasimha Rao is scheduled to visit Punjab on April 20. This will be the Indian prime minister’s first visit to the trouble-torn state in four years. It appears from the amount of preparations made by the Indian government at Ludhiana that the authorities are deeply apprehensive about some untoward incident happening on that day. More than one lakh police personnel belonging to eight districts of the state have been deployed in Ludhiana city alone to prevent any political mishap. The police authorities are leaving nothing to chance. The situation in the town on the eve of the visits gives one the impression of curfew restrictions. Policemen man the 25-km long route between Harwarn army airport where the prime minister will land and the Guru Nanak stadium where he will address a public rally. Thousands of houses and shops en route have been occupied by security forces. Schools and other educational institutions have been forcibly closed down. Most police personnel have been lodged in these schools. There is a move to totally stop traffic on the Ferozepore road on the day of the visit. The authorities have asked even nursing homes and hospitals functioning in the stadium area not to admit patients on April 20, according to the local media.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 21, 1995
