CALCUTTA: Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar said April 7 his government would announce its decision on holding elections to the Assam and Punjab assemblies within a few days.

Mr Chandra Shekhar told newsmen here that he had always favored the holding of the Lok Sabha elections in Assam and Punjab in the atmosphere was congenial in those two states. “I want elections to be held everywhere” he said.

The administration in those states was trying to make a proper assessment of the situation. And if the Election Commission was satisfied the necessary arrangements would be made to hold elections there along with the rest of the country.

The Prime Minister denied that Press censorship had been imposed in Punjab recently but admitted that there were some restrictions on those papers which had become “regular bulletins” of militants. There were about 70 dailies coming out from Punjab and the government had not opposed any restriction on them. “We had put the restrictions only to curb militancy in the state” the Prime Minister said.

To another question the Prime Minister said he had not proposed electoral adjustments with any party in West Bengal in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. About his meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Basu in Delhi Saturday Mr Chandra Shekhar said: “It was a meeting between a Prime Minister and a Chief Minister. The Press has nothing to do with this.”

Mr Chandra Shekhar said a mere majority in Parliament did not mean ability of the government which spent largely on its policies and performances.

Mr Chandra Shekhar denied that had any “secret understanding” with Punjab leader S.S.Mann and said he did not believe in such dealings. “I believe in open matters” he added.

Meanwhile the police resorted to a charge to disperse angry Janata Dal (S) workers who were denied entry into the kendra where the Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar is addressing party workers. The party workers owing allegiance to? Shouted slogans against Janata Dal (S)’s West Bengal unit president Biman Mitra protesting against the denial of entry.

As the Prime Minister left the venue lathi-wielding policemen were seen chasing away party Supporters repeatedly. The supporters one of them woman alleged that they were beaten up by the police without any provocation.

The Prime Minister said there was no need to be “panicky” on the economic front but felt political instability had contributed to the country’s economic difficulties.

The situation was not as hopeless as some people tried to project it Mr Chandra Shekhar said while addressing the Bengal Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Chandra Shekhar was critical of the policy of liberalization and said the balance of payments crisis was a result of the policy pursued during the past four years.

He chided supporters of the policy of liberalizations in which imports exceeded exports.

The Prime Minister said the government had to introduce certain import restrictions as India could not afford to become bankrupt in the?

India the Prime Minister said should adopt appropriate technology and not modern technology especially when it could utilize its vast manpower. A country of India’s size he said could not be bailed out by foreign help. “We will have to depend on our own resources” he said.

Mr Chandra Shekhar said some mistakes were “committed by us” in the conduct of the Gulf policy. Without naming anyone he objected to statements made by certain leaders during the Gulf war. On the prospects of the return of 150000 Indian expatriates the Prime Minister said he did not think Kuwait could employ foreign workers the way it had done before its annexation by Iraq.

He urged all political parties not to mix religion with politics during electioneering but address themselves to the burning problems facing the country.

During his stay the Prime Minister inaugurated an all-India trade conference jointly organised by the FICCI and the other chambers and trade associations.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 12, 1991