NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao said that elections in Punjab would be held after passing a legislation to debar from contest those secessionist demands.
Addressing a group of Youth Congress-I workers from Punjab here the prime minister said a provision would be made in the proposed legislation to disqualify those indulging in secessionist activities.
Explaining the reasons why the Congress-I had decided not to contest the elections in the state earlier Narasimha Rao said the party felt that once Khalistan was made an election plank the whole effort would turn out to be a futile exercise.
The party had therefore decided not to take part in the elections till such forces were cither punished or kept out of the poll process he said.
Referring to the problems of Punjab and Kashmir the prime minister said these were not the handiwork of individuals or stray groups. There were well-organized groups which were being backed by a neighboring country he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 23, 1991
