Akali-Bjp Manifesto Promises Probe Into Punjab Militancy

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance in Punjab has decided to probe the causes of militancy in the state since 1980 and to fix the Congress responsiblity in fanning militancy, in case the alliance is voted to power in the February Assembly elections.

The manifesto, the copy of which was released yesterday says: We will set up a special commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge, to expose the Congress hand behind the violence in Punjab.

BJP vice-president Madan Lal Khurana later explained that the inquiry commission would cover the period from 1980 to 1992, when a popular Congress government was formed under the leadership of Sardar Beant Singh.

However, Khurana failed to explain the reason for mentioning the Congress in the inquiry commissions terms of reference. He disagreed that the terms was referene was prejudical to the Congress.

All the factors that fanned militancy in the state would be looked into by the Commission and the Congress role will automatically be probed, he said in response to a query from newsmen.

At a time when the country is talking of financial discipline and doing away with subsidies, the manifesto has promises to implement populist schemes such as giving free water and electricity to farmers for agricultural purposes.

Khurana explained this as the need of the farmers of Punjab and said he did not find any problem with including these schemes in the combines manifesto.

Such populist measures are not in tune with the financial discipline anticipated from the states, a BJP leader admitted. However, he added that the governments losses incurred as a result of these measures would be compensated through better financial management and by tapping other sources of revenue in the industrial sector.

Among other things, the manifesto has also promised better investment opportunities in the state with stress on attracting NRI investment, full protection to small scale industrial units and cottage industry, abolititon of octroi tax and the present inspector raj and simplification of the sales tax laws.

Khurana claimed that the alliance would get an absolute majority in the state and that the Congress would suffer its worst electoral defeat.

To make this possible, the BJP has chalked out the election campaign tour of its senior leaders. Atal Behari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and others would address rallies at various assembly constituencies in the state today, Khurana said.