AMRITSAR: Informed sources have revealed that further talks on between government and AISSF leaders Bhai Manjit Singh and Harminder S. Sandhu lodged in local jail has advanced and some changes in the Indian constitution are expected. These talks are in the continuation of talks held with Sandhu and Bhai Manjit Singh where they when they were detained in Jodhpur jail and the Cabinet Minister P.V Narsima Rao. During their detention at Jodhpur both AISSF leaders were brought to Delhi for talks with the central government.
Constitutional Changes
In the latest issue of India Week published from Delhi it is dis Closed that as a result of successful talks some changes in the Indian Constitution are being made. The election of a governor by an electoral college of Vidhan Sabha and Municipal Corporations will ensure that the Drama like the one in Karmatka where an elected government was dismissed at the whim of the Center appointed Governor would not be repeated.
According to the weekly Chandigarh is of no importance to Sikhs. In its place Punjab should be paid 200250 crores of Rs along, with the Punjabi speaking areas to be merged with Punjab, Baba Manochahal and Baba Wassan Zaffarwal are not in favor of any settlement within the constitution of India. It is assumed that for the very reason they were kept out of the new panthic committee.
The Sikh Student Federation leaders have refused to disclose any details except saying that in any settlement Akali will get suitable place and Simranjit Singh Mann and Kuldip Singh Wadhala will get important positions as a result of the settlement.
The government is ignoring the Akalis in talks, Comrade Piara Singh Deosi, a local Communist leader, has welcomed the talk but has critized the secrecy of it. He said previous settlements failed because they were kept secret from the people. The people must be taken into confidence, he added.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 26, 1989