This was stated by the Punjab Industries Minister, Mr Sucha Singh Langah, at a news conference here today. Mr Sucha Singh said the Badal Government had taken strict measures against those trying to revive militancy in Punjab. He said the Punjab police raids in certain areas in Jammu in recent months were part of the police strategy to arrest or eliminate anyone found involved in buttressing insurgency. In reply to a question he said that no innocent person had been detained in Punjab.

The Industries Minister wanted the ruling National Conference Government to give a fair deal to the Sikhs living in Jammu and Kashmir. He said about two lakh Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir had been given a raw deal with the result the community had no representation in the council of ministers. He also urged the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, to prevail upon his party colleagues and the government not to interfere in the religious affairs of the Sikhs and in this connection he cited the instance of the election to the Gurdwara Prabandhak Board a year ago.

He said if these irritants were removed Sikhs would cooperate with the National Conference Government. Mr Langah made it clear that the Akali Dal lent support to other political parties on the basis of ideological proximity. The Akali Dal had forged alliance with the BSP but when the BSP started aligning itself with the Congress the Dal had no other option to join hands with the BJP because the Congress was the enemy of both the BJP and the Akali Dal. In reply to a question he said the alliance between the BJP and the Akali Dal whether in Punjab or at the Centre was smooth.

While referring to the killing of former Akali Dal President, Mr Harnam Singh, in Jammu three years ago Mr Langah demanded a CBI inquiry and urged the state government to take firm measures for arresting the killers.

The Punjab Akali leader announced that Mr Balwant Singh was the President of the state unit of the Akali Dal (B) and Mr H.S. Raina as its Working President thereby setting at rest speculation about new leadership of the Akali Dal unit in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the Akali Dal (B) had launched the membership drive in Jammu and Kashmir which was expected to be completed within one month. He also announced the constitution of 13-member advisory board of the Akali Dal in Jammu and Kashmir which would be headed by Mr Dalip Singh.

With regard to the tercentenary of the birth of Khalsa Panth, a Khalsa Chetna Manch will be organised from Jammu and Kashmir. The march will end at Anandpur Sahib. Dates are yet to be finalised for the march.

He said the Anandpur Sahib and other cities in Punjab would receive a major facelift in connection with the 300th birth anniversary of Khalsa Panth. In order to celebrate the occasion the Punjab Government has succeeded in arranging a major gift for the people of Punjab by way of setting up a Rs 300-crore-cement plant and Rs 16000 crore refinery at Bhatinda.