CHANDIGARH: The Prime Minister, Mr Chandra Shekhar, has ruled out any package on Punjab unless the Centre is convinced of its acceptability.

The Prime Minister, who was answering questions here on Dec 14 evening, said mutual discussions should proceed the announcement of any package. However, he reiterated that the government would take some initiative within a week because the situation in the state could not be allowed to be what it was for a very long time.

Mr Chandra Shekhar was here to attend the wedding reception of the son of Mr Yagya Datt Sharma, Governor of Orissa. A large number of dignitaries, including the governors of Punjab and Haryana, Mr Virendra Verma and Mr Dhanik Lal Mandal, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Hukam Singh and the BJP president. Mr L.K. Advani was present at the occasion.

He said, “We are ready to talk to anyone on Punjab. We will invite the Akalis again. I have never said either before or after becoming the Prime Minister that problems can be solved with force. This misunderstanding should be removed.

Answering questions about the grievances aired by the president of the Akali Dal (Mann), Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, Mr Chandra Shekhar said he had not met him. Mr Mann had to establish credibility of his views and “should contact us and tell us what he wants and we will try to dispel all his doubts.”

When his attention was drawn to the demand of self-determination raised by Mr Mann, the Prime Minister said self-determination was being demanded by other people also. We negotiated with them and a settlement was arrived at.”

Answering another question, the Prime Minister said that the Akalis should be persuaded to cooperate with the government for a negotiated settlement. It would be better if each other’s views were understood.

The Prime Minister admitted that neither the government had initiated any talks with the militants nor the militants had responded to his invitation. The impression that the writ of militants ran in Punjab should be removed in the interest of everyone. But it was not only the duty of the government alone to remove this impression, it was for the society as a whole as otherwise there would be anarchy, he said.

Article extracted from this publication >> December 21, 1990