LUDHIANA: The Punjab Sikh Lawyers Council (PSLC) will not participate in the forthcoming elections as it is convinced that in the present constitutional framework no government in Punjab can survive without becoming a stooge of New Delhi loud slogans and tall claims of certain Akali leaders not with-standing.
This was stated here by the PSLC Presidium Member Mr D.S.Gill and its General Secretary Mr Mohinder Singh Grewal in a statement adding that although the Council was not opposed to the revival of political process yet it was of the view that in the given situation announcement of elections was simply a ploy to involve a section of militants in power politics and pit them against those engaged in the ongoing struggle to end state tyranny and injustice.
The Council also expressed doubts if the new government at Delhi will stick to the decision taken by the caretaker government to hold elections in Punjab.
Even a “militant” government would not be able to demolish the existing police state structure of Punjab what to say of punishing police officials guilty of heinous crimes. The statements of Minister of State for Home Mr Subodh Kant Sahay and Prime Minister Mr Chandra Shekhar to constitutionally insulate guilty police personnel against any probable legal action are pointers to the shape of things to come said the PSLC activists.
Given the present situation the election they added might provide some immediate succor to the people at large but the confrontation between protagonists of the struggle and the ministerial group is inevitable.
The lawyer’s body has called upon those who have decided to contest the elections to spell out how they propose to fight state tyranny after gaining political power.
Mohinder Singh Grewal
General Secretary PSLC
Article extracted from this publication >> May 24, 1991
