PHILLAUR JALANDHAR: The Union Home Minister S.B. Chavan Sunday said a political package for Punjab would be announced “very soon.”
Talking to reporters after attending an investiture ceremony at northern zones police training college in Maharaja Ranji Singh Fort here he said the process of consultation was in progress with all the concerned parties and hoped a negotiated settlement would be reached soon. The minister replied in the affirmative when asked if the package was possible before Baisakhi.
Chavan disclosed that nongovernment people were in touch with the underground militant leadership as well. He however declined to disclose the identity of the parties involved in the discussion on the Punjab problem. When asked if he met the Haryana Chief Minister on Saturday besides having met Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in New Delhi he quipped “Consultations are in progress with both chief ministers.”
Asked as to why a political package was not announced before the February elections in Punjab Chavan said it would have proved “infructuous.” While saying that Rajiv Longowal accord on Punjab was. “Still relevant” the minister said discussions with the concerned parties have to be held for reaching a negotiated settlement.
He reiterated that the government has an open mind about a dialogue with the militants as they were “our men but have been misguided.” He said the government was ready to talk with the militants within the framework of the Constitution provided they shunned violence.
The minister replied in the negative when asked if there was any change in Pakistan’s policy towards India in respect of its interference in Punjab and Kashmir.
When asked if a political solution of the Punjab problem was possible by keeping the Akali leadership in jail. Chavan said their detention concerned the stale government and it was for an elected government in Punjab to decide whether to release them or not
The Union Home Minister described as “baseless” the charge that the Congress (I) Government. Of Beant Singh in Punjab was an extension of the Presidents rule. He said Beant Singh is a Chief Minister irrespective of the fact whether his government had been elected by five per cent or eight per cent of the electorate.
Chavan refuted the charges of torture and fake encounters made in the Amnesty International report on violations of human rights in Punjab. He said the report was based on “hear-say and politically motivated.” He said the report made out as if there was law of the jungle in Punjab and asked how it could be possible with a vibrant press judiciary an elected Assembly and Parliament functioning in the country. He said the Amnesty report made sweeping charges without any specificity.
Replying to a question he said he was not going to Ayodhya but added a parliamentary team would visit the disputed site in the next week or 10 days to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
Earlier Chavan presented colors to the Punjab police in recognition of its “steadfastness loyalty gallantry and devotion.” The colors were designed by the college Principal DIG G.S Bhullar and received by his nephew Gurpreet Singh Bhalla DSP probationer in the college.
Speaking on the occasion after taking salute at an impressive march past led by parade commander K.S. Ghuman and after giving away 35 medals in various categories the minister said while the police has to be tough the law breakers they should ensure to protect the “innocents.”
Article extracted from this publication >> April 10, 1992
