NEW DELHI: Members in the upper house of parliament (Rajya Sabha) Monday called for creation of congenial atmosphere in Punjab before deciding to hold elections in the trouble-torn, sensitive border state.
All political parties should be taken into confidence about the reported plans for holding the poll in February, the members said during the resumed discussion on the Punjab appropriation bill, 1991.
Opposition members felt that the plans for the poll appeared to be under way even before the or edibility of the central government was established.
Mohd Afzal, Janata Dal, said the policies of the Congress-I govt over the years had alienated Sikhs from the rest of the community.
However, Congress-I members said the holding of elections in Punjab was a commitment made by the late Rajiv Gandhi and felt that firm steps should be taken to” go ahead with the poll plans.
Government should also spare no efforts in ensuring that the Alkalis also participated in the
Elections as otherwise it would not serve the intended objective.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 13, 1991
