NEW DELHI: India appears to have put off its so called package plan for Punjab for a few weeks. The Indian home minister had earlier stated that the plan would be put through on Baisakhi April 13.

Not only has there been no move from Delhi on the “package” to with the schedule the minister this week stated that the so called package would come “provided the Sikhs ensure peace in Punjab.

The essential ingredient of the package” is transfer of Punjab water to Harayna through the S.Y.L. canal and in lieu thereof the merger of Chandigarh into Punjab and a few small concessions like introduction of Punjabi in the neighboring states. References to Abohar and Fazilka as possible areas meant for Harayana are Harayna are merely bargain counter.

These measures are called “package” as Delhi would like to install in power any Akali group which agrees to the provisions of the so called “package” as was done by the late Harchand Singh Longowal and his associates. The real aim of the package in addition to water is to drive a wedge between Akalis and militants.

The enforcement of the “package in the calculation of the Indian authorities is riddled with problems. Observers feel the source of these problems is the growth in appetite of Haraynas leaders over the decades who had been led into believing that Haryana had a genuine claim to a share in Punjab’s rivers and that Chandigarh although a union territory really belongs to Haryana

Against this background the Hindu think-tank has persuaded Delhi to try its hand at Akali leaders once again who maybe in a more responsive frame of mind after a term of failure. Delhi’s optimism based on the failure of op Akali leaders such as Parkash Singh Badal to endorse the Holla Mohalla resolution of Sikh groups at Anandpur Sahib in favor of Khalistan. On the other hand Badal issued press statement last week calling for a “drastic change” in Delhi attitude towards Sikhs clearly implying that a solution of the Punjab problem short of Khalistan is possible.

Badals statement gave a clear message to Delhi that he might be interested in holding talks. Indian authorities would further investigate Badals mind in the next few days and would like to encourage Journalists to meet him But Gurcharan Singh Tohra and even Simranjit Singh Mann may not be that pliable Delhi will find it difficult to bring round these two leaders who have been lodged together in a provisional jail in Sangrar district. Mann has been quoted as praising Tohra for his views on the Sikh issues.

When the news of a certain group leaders arrest by the Chandigarh police reached him a veteran intelligence man who remained associated with Punjab for decades commented: “It may either be preparatory to talks OF signal a fresh wave of repression of Sikhs.” Whatever the strategy of India’s policy makers Prime Minister to appear to be preoccupied with Tirupati session of the ruling party scheduled for this month and in the current budget election of Indian parliament.

Another important consideration for the Rao government in favor of letting the sleeping dogs lie is the fourth coming election of the Indian President scheduled for July. The government would not like to create political disturbances in the volatile state OF Haryana just at a time when the unit of all Congress (I) men and women is in the need of calm.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 17, 1992