AMRITSAR: Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed asked all parties to create an atmosphere conducive for restoration of representative government in Punjab.
Addressing a press conference at the end of his day long visit here, Sayeed and minister of state for home affairs Subodh Kant Sahay said a political atmosphere conductive to holding election in the state has to be created and it was responsibility of all political parties.
But, at the moment, top priority of the government was to improve law and order situation, they said.
The Home Minister soon after his arrival here, Wednesday morning from Delhi reviewed law and order situation, particularly in Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Amritsar districts with senior police, para military officers and state government officials.
Later, he visited some villagers. While starting the political process, Sayeed and Sahay said the government was ready to talk to any party including various factions of the Akali Dal.
The home minister announced that the state government would provide employment to about 10,000 youth in Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and Amritsar. The idea was to wean away youth from militancy, they said.
The two ministers said, Rs. 4 billion has been placed at the disposal of the state government for launching welfare and developmental schemes in 12 districts of the state.
Replying to questions the home minister said the national security. Guards (NSG) would work in close cooperation with the para military forces and the Punjab police.
Sayeed, who earlier along with senior officials, saw border fencing at the Ramkot picket in Ajnala sector said another 23. 6Kmon the 544 km Indo Pakistan border in Punjab would be brought under fencing and 34 km under flood lights.
He said the government did not consider the border fencing as “financial constrain” and added that about 190 km covered earlier under fencing and flood lights had shown “very effective” results as about one thousand AK 4 7 Chinese assault rifles were seized in the last 18 months.
The minister said that public works department has already been entrusted the job of erecting fencing and the work will be taken up soon.
The Union home minister to a question ruled out deployment of army in the state for internal security.
Mufti Sayeed stated that the meeting of senior police, security and civil officials of Punjab to review the law and order situation emphasized on more vigil and day and night patrolling, particularly in rural areas,
Effective measures had helped reduce incidents of police extortions and there had been no fake encounters he said.
He said he had found the situation had improved since his last visit to Chandigarh one and a half month back. But lot of follow up Action was required, he added.
Sayeed said Sahai who was touring the state had been asked to take stock of the situation in every district with view to holding elections in Punjab.
‘Asked the reasons for deployment of national security guards, Mufti Sayeed said that they have necessary training to deal with the Punjab situation.
NEW DELHI: The Junior Federal Minister for Home (Interior) Subodh Kant Sahay, Sunday reiterated the commitment to reviving the democratic process in Punjab.
Speaking at a function at the Sikh place of worship, Gurdwara Bala Sahebv here, Sahay said that the government would hand over the administration to whosoever was elected by the people of Punjab.
He praised the Sikh community for its contribution to the all-round development of the nation and in particular in defending the country’s borders.
Recounting various relief measure already announced for the victims of the antiSikh riots in 1984 following the assassination of the then premier Indira Gandhi, Sahay promised to take up further the question of waiving of interest on loans given to riot victims. He said each and every person in the camps would be rehabilitated.
Sahay was presented with a traditional Saropa the consecrated sword, at the Gurdwara.
The govt figure of the toll in the anti-Sikh riots for whom the new relief measures have been announced is 2000 whereas 9000 Sikh men and boys were killed in two days in 1984.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 29, 1990
