CHANDIGARE: The President of the Sikh Akali Party (Mann Faction), Simranjit Singh Mann Tuesday Said the Pepsi project was of “utmost importance” for the troubled northern Indian state of Punjab and requested the federal 8overnment to implement it without delay.
In a letter to Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh, copies of which were released here, Mann Said his party was seriously concerned over recent statements regarding the review of the food processing project.
He said thousands of farmers had already sown tomato and Potato crops for the processing unit. “This may lead the farming community to untold misery besides encouraging reversion to the traditional crops,” Mann said.
“This may lead the farming community to untold misery be-sides encouraging reversion to the traditional crops,” Mann said.
“The project is of utmost importance for diversification from traditional crops to fruit and horticulture. The government should clear doubts cast over the project and give an appropriate policy direction,” Mann said.
The Pepsi project is being set up by the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, Voltas and the Pepsi International of USA.
In a statement here, Mann said there could be no “unprincipled talks” with the center on the Punjab problem.
The talks must be open and there should be an agenda, he said.
Asserting that “elections are our right,” Mann said talks on solving Punjab problem could take place after assembly polls in the state. He demanded “restoration of the rule of law” in the state.
Mann said the governor’s announcement that there would be no administrative shake up in the state, “has brought the state and the party into direct confrontation.”
“Our basic demand for dismantling the repressive machinery has been rejected,” he said adding an executive meeting of the party would be convened shortly to chaIk out the future course of action.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 9, 1990
