NEW DELHI: The Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao reiterated his government’s resolve to initiate steps for early restoration of the democratic process in Punjab. At the same time whatever was possible would be done to ensure peace in Punjab the Prime Minister told the CPI(M) leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet and others from his party who called on him These leaders handed over a copy of the memorandum the | party has prepared on the Punjab situation submitted on Tuesday by the CPI(M) delegation from Punjab in connection with the dharna organized at the Boat Club. The CPI (M) activists and supporters had on Tuesday organized the protest dharna to draw the attention of the Union Government on the urgency to restore the democratic process and to put an end what they called police excesses and militant activities.
Surjeet later disclosed that the meeting was a part of political efforts of the CPI(M) to stress the need for early elections in the militancy-ridden state.
The Prime Minister is expected shortly to have a round of talks with the Opposition leaders on Punjab which now stands postponed to Sept.25.
The Punjab Congress (I) president Beant Singh who had only on Monday left for Punjab returned here on Wednesday on summons from the party high command He is due to hold discussions with the Prime Minister and other central leaders on the prospects of the party in Punjab poll if held in February-March next year or even earlier as being stressed by the central leadership.
The issue of holding early elections in Punjab and to resolve the outstanding issues Of the state was also raised in the Lok Sabha during zero hour by the CPI (M) member Saifuddin Chaudhry while referring to the protest dharna by his partymen from Punjab held on Tuesday.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 20, 1991
