Aug 5, 2025 07:29 IST
First published on: Aug 5, 2025 at 07:29 IST
While the Centre is assessing whether to hold elections in Punjab before October 5 when the fourth six-month term of President’s Rule expires, new factors are emerging which may prompt it to postpone elections by a few months by extending Governor’s Rule through a constitutional amendment. According to informed sources, Harchand Singh Longowal favours the elections to be only after four or five months. It is not yet known if he has conveyed his views to the Centre.
Bhopal Gas Victims
A national delegation of the PUCL and the PUDR, which visited the gas-affected areas of Bhopal, said that the state government had “grossly underestimated” the number of gas victims. The members of the delegation, including Justice V M Tarkunde, George Fernandes and Rajni Kothari, said the underestimation of deaths as well as the extent of the suffering of gas victims will only serve the interests of Union Carbide, which was responsible for the disaster.
Kashmir Talks
To end the present instability in Kashmir, the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, is to have a final round of talks with Kashmir leaders. Gandhi, who has summoned the PCC (I) chief, Mufti Sayed, to Delhi to meet him, is also expected to call the former chief minister, Farooq Abdullah, and discuss with him the pros and cons of a Kashmir “solution”. NC (F) leaders expect a “good” gesture from Gandhi, particularly after Abdullah has publicly declared that he would cooperate with the Centre.
Benazir Bhutto’s Plan
The political atmosphere, from which Benazir Bhutto was expected to gain on her return to Pakistan with the body of her brother, Shahnawaz Bhutto, may now gradually fade out if she further postpones her departure from Paris. Left to herself, the acting chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party is ready to fly as early as possible to Karachi with the body of her brother to be buried along the grave of his father, the executed prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Shahnawaz Bhutto was found dead in his flat in Cannes, France. Foul play was suspected. So, the police carried out three autopsies and may order the fourth, if they are not able to find out the exact cause of his death.
