New Delhi imposes direct rule on Punjab

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 10

New Delhi imposes direct rule on Punjab

By

ROBERT MAHONEY

of Reuters NZPA New Delhi - The Indian Government has imposed direct rule from New Delhi on the Punjab and accused the State’s moderate Sikh Goverment of failing to counter separatist violence. A proclamation issued after a marathon Cabinet meeting said the central Government ; would take immediate control of the north-western state following a "breakdown of the law and order machinery.” Some 640 people were killed last year and 300 have died this year in a campaign by Sikh extremists to set up an independent homeland for Punjab’s 12 million Sikhs. Police in the state capital, Chandigarh, told

Reuters that paramilitary troops had moved into Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts along the Pakistani border, scene of some of the bloodiest extremist attacks. The imposition of direct rule follows an upsurge in killings and growing criticism by leading political parties of the state’s Sikh Akali Dal party, led by Chief Minister Surjit singh Barnala. ■ The order puts the 55,000 state police and 'central paramilitary forces under the control of Delhi through an appointed governor in Chandigarh. The governor can also call out the army if necessary. Direct rule was lifted after two years in September, 1985, when Barnala came to power in elections engineered by the Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv

Gandhi, and moderate Sikh leaders. Since then Hindu leaders, opposition parties

and Mr Gandhi’s Congress party have accused the beleaguered Chief Minister of being too weak.