'Chauhan should behave responsibly'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 1. Even as the return of the Khalistan protagonist, Dr. Jagjit Singh Chauhan, to Punjab continues to create ripples in State politics, Mr. Tarlochan Singh, Vice- Chairman, Minorities Commission, today said the separatist leader should desist from making harmful statements.

After a decade of turbulence, Punjab's relations with the Centre were smooth as never before, Mr. Singh said. Dr. Chauhan, who had been permitted to re-enter the country on court's directions, should satisfy himself that the people were content with peace returning to the State.

Mr. Singh endorsed the suggestion from various quarters to the Union Home Ministry to scrap the `blacklist' and grant visas to the Sikhs who wished to visit India. He also appealed to the media to exercise restraint while reporting such issues and refrain from giving a larger-than-life image to people who had little support otherwise.

The Congress MP from Hoshiarpur, Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi, blamed the Shiromani Akali Dal Government for `allowing'

Dr. Chauhan to visit the State. The Badal Government had first allowed another separatist leader, Mr. Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, and now let in Dr. Chauhan. It was encouraging such people ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab. Mr. Channi warned that the moves could lead to turmoil in Punjab once again.

The former Youth Congress Chief, Mr. Maninderjit Singh Bitta, expressed concern over the move and called for an immediate ban on the entry of terrorist and militant activists from abroad.

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