CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh, on Feb.4, reiterated the state’s claim on Yamuna waters and said the meeting of the concerned states Convened by the center on Friday to the settle apportionment of the Water had been postponed.

He told a news conference here that Punjab had been invited to the Meting as it has a right over Yamuna water as it was a co-riparian state with regard to the river before the state’s reorganization in 1966, he said. “We would Plead our case at the meeting, whenever it is held,” he added.

Commenting on the election to the general house of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, he said the Sikhs should manage the shrines on their own. The government, he said, would not like to interfere in their affairs.

When it was pointed out that the government was bound under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, to hold the elections, the Chief Minister said he had conveyed to the center, albeit verbally, that the Act should be abolished. He said that the SGPC should recommend its abolition. He was noncommittal on whether the state government would formally recommend to the center to scrap the Act.

Beant Singh, who earlier presided over a meeting of senior police officers to review the law and order situation and the just concluded panchayat elections, appreciated the role of the police and said no un forward incident had been reported before or during poll.

The Chief Minister said he had issued instructions to the police to accord full respect to the elected representatives of the people. They would be taken into confidence by the police before initiating any action in the village. However, he ruled out giving more judicial powers to the sarpanches.

The Chief Minister refused to make any claim regarding improvement in the law and order situation, saying it was for the people to judge. He said militant crime in December was the lowest but warned that there is no room for complacency. He said the situation would have to be countered bravely as had been done during the last few months.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 12, 1993