Akali Dal-BJP govt wants immediate central initiative in Punjab

The Akali Dal (Badal)-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government in Punjab has demanded an immediate and comprehensive initiative from the Centre to find a ''just and satisfactory solution to the long standing demands and grievances of Punjabis.''

The state government's demand was articulated by Governor Lt General B N Chibbar in his annual address to the assembly on Wednesday.

Demanding immediate transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, the governor urged the settlement of the inclusion of Punjabi-speaking areas in the state, settlement of Punjab's claim on the river waters and exemplary punishment to those guilty in the anti-Sikh carnage that followed Indira Gandhi's assassination.

''All my government demands is full justice to be done to Punjab and Punjabis,'' the general said.

Reiterating the Akali-BJP government's demand for more powers to the state, the governor said all round development and prosperity of the states and the country was possible only with the establishment of a genuine federal structure. The balance of resources, he felt, should be recast in favour of the states.

The governor said the rampant misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution should be halted through effective safeguards. The state government, he added, should be taken into confidence in the matter of appointment of governors.

The state government, the governor declared, was determined to end the atmosphere of ''needless'' confrontation -- political or otherwise -- in the state. Things had been quite the reverse in the recent past, he added in a clear pointer to the Congress governments, when confrontation had been encouraged and draconian measures used to deal with political opponents.