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CPI caution on Punjab situation

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH AUG. 23. The Punjab unit of the Communist Party of India has cautioned that if the political parties do not remain vigilant, the State would slip back into the era of violence. It warned that while the economic policies followed by the Centre and State had contributed to the precarious situation, disruptive forces had begun to revive their rhetoric.

These views were expressed by the secretary of the State unit of the CPI, Joginder Dayal, while talking to presspersons after chairing a meeting of the party secretariat. He referred to various incidents to argue that the law and order situation had deteriorated and quoted figures from the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) regarding rise in unemployment to emphasise that economic reforms were doing more harm than good.

Drawing a parallel with the situation 20 years ago, Dr. Dayal said while the people were facing economic hardships as manifested by lack of avenues for gainful employment, disruptive elements had begun to play on the sentiments of the people. He said the newly-formed Akali outfit, Dal Khalsa, headed by the former Speaker of the State Assembly, Ravi Inder Singh, had raked up issues which had been raised in the past, leading to turmoil in Punjab.

All major parties, especially the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine, were more driven towards generating controversies over non-issues.

He said as on the economic issues, a consensus seems to have been reached between the rival camps to divert public attention from the "real issues", which he identified as growing unemployment, increase in narcotics smuggling, urban decay and neglect of rural areas.

Dr. Dayal said that instead of curtailing non-productive expenditure by the Government, bureaucrats had begun implementing policies that put additional burden on the people, in the name of reviving the fiscal health of the State.

Instead of strengthening democratic institutions, the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, was pursuing policies that sought to strengthen the Akali-BJP alliance, which the Left front was struggling to keep out of power.

Dr. Dayal said that from September 15 to October 2, the State unit of the party would organise marches all over Punjab, originating from six historic places associated with the freedom struggle.

The marches would highlight the dangers of revival of communal forces and highlight the "anti-people" policies of State and Central Governments.

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