Addressing a meeting of the National INTEGRATION COUNCIL in New Delhi on April 7, 1986 the Punjab Chief Minister, S, Surjit Singh Barnala criticized a section of the press for creating an impression that those released by the Akali Government had gone ‘on a killing spree.
A total of about 36 lakh tons of food grains are lying with the Punjab procurement agencies of ‘which 25 lakh tones are lying in the open, The Punjab Government ‘would have to bear a loss of Rs: 13 core due (0 damage caused to about 80,000 tons of food grains lying with the procurement agencies.
The S.G.P.C. has passed a budget of 10.71 cores for the year 1986-87.
Ten cities are now almost under Military control in Punjab. Apart from the police and Home guards, the state now has been provided with 35000 Para-military troops who have been given special powers under the Disturbed Areas Act.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 16, 1986
