CHANDIGARH, India: The Union Home Minister, Buta Singh, ruled out the possibility of releasing some of the detainees of Jodhpur jail in the near future. Speaking to newsmen at Haryana Raj Bhawan, Mr, Buta Singh said that fate of all those detainees at Jodhpur was linked to one case. The cases of individuals cannot be taken up on piecemeal basis.
Earlier there was a report that the President and General Secretary of All India Sikh Student Federation had been released following the dropping of cases against them.
Mr. Buta Singh refused to comment when a newsman asked as to how Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Harchand Singh Longowal who were also arrested along with other Jodhpur detainees from the Golden Temple Complex during the Operation Blue Star, were released ‘The Home Minister said that certain constitutional and legal aspects ‘Were coming in the way of the trial Of the detained persons. The case ‘has been pending before the Superior Court. He refused to divulge the details of the court case.
Mr, Buta Singh reiterated that government could not hold talks With those who pleaded for the creation of Khalistan. The suggestion to hold talks with such persons ws absurd, he said. When the Newsman asked whether the government would consider holding talks with the A.S.S.F. which has never demanded Khalistan, the Home Minister stated, “Are you authorized to say so on behalf of them”, He said that he did not believe whatever has appeared in their behalf in the newspapers and the media.
He declined to comment whether the United Akali Dal and the AI.SS.F. were among those organizations which were propaganda for the creation of Khalistan.
Mr. Buta Singh said that report of Ranganathan Mishra Commission will be placed before both Houses of Parliament during the next session. Mishra Commission had been set up to enquire into the its in Delhi and Kanpur following Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 26, 1986
