AMRITSAR,— Minister of State for Home P. Chidambaram said a decision on holding the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab along with the rest of the country would be taken at an “appropriate time.”

In a chat with newsmen here, Chidambaram said there was no question of the Congress(I) making the Punjab problem an election issue.

The Minister, who arrived here this morning, visited the volatile Tarn Taran police district and later held meeting with senior civil and police officials here, Later, the Minister left for Delhi.

Regarding the situation in Punjab, Chidambaram said the security forces had been applying a lot of pressure on the militants. “I have never said that the militants are on the run and the police has tightened the grip”, he said referring to recent reports in a section of the Press.

On his arrival here the Minister visited Then kirian village in the mand area of Tarn Taran subdivision. The village was attacked by some unknown armed men twice in the last 10 days.

The Minister appreciated the Stationing of a commando company of the Punjab Armed Police in the village since Monday last.

Later the Minister held a meeting at Tarn Taran with senior police officials to review the law and order situation. State Home Secretary S. L. Kapur and police chief K. P, S. Gill were also present at the meeting.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 18, 1989