Jul 26, 2025 07:24 IST
First published on: Jul 26, 2025 at 07:00 IST
The “merged’” Akali Dal of Joginder Singh has rejected the “so-called memorandum” jointly signed by Harchand Singh Longowal and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to settle the Punjab problem. According to a resolution, unanimously adopted at a meeting of the ad-hoc advisory committee of the “merged” Akali Dal, the agreement is unacceptable because Longowal does not “represent” the Sikh masses. Joginder Singh presided over the meeting.
No Water Sharing
Rajasthan has refused to accept that portion of the Centre-Akali accord which deals with sharing of river waters. The Chief Minister, Hari Dev Joshi, told the Vidhan Sabha during a stormy three-hour debate that he had discussed the relevant portion of the agreement with the former law minister and called a meeting of his cabinet, which supported his stand.
Punjab Polls
The Punjab Governor, Arjun Singh, said in New Delhi that he would send his recommendations on holding elections in the state to the Centre by August 15 at the latest. Singh said the Government would consult the Akalis as well as other Opposition parties before making a final recommendation to the Centre.
Starvation Deaths
At least six persons have died of starvation since last fortnight and many more are struggling for survival in the Komna block of Kalahandi district, which the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is to visit. The Chief Minister, J B Patnaik, got first-hand knowledge of four deaths when he visited the bereaved families in Chhata village, 10 km from Komna on July 20. This knowledge, however, does seem to have percolated to other authorities. There is no estimate of the number of starvation deaths in the district in the past three months.
