CHANDIGARH: Virendra Verma, the new Indian governor of Punjab on Thursday said he was willing to have a dialogue with the militants on the condition that they express their faith in India’s unity and integrity and conduct themselves within the framework of the Indian constitution.

Addressing a press conference soon after the swearing in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan (the governor’s official residence) here, Verma totally rejected the demand for an independent state Khalistan or a plebiscite.

Verma appealed to all Sikh religious and political leaders to urge the militants not to kill innocent people as no religion preached violence.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 22, 1990