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SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR : I am shocked to hear the observation of the Minister of State for Law. The Election Commission never consulted the Government, the Government that was there at that time. Nor was there any report with the Election Commission based on which the elections of Punjab could have been postponed. The elections were postponed because of a decision of the Election Commission which took on its own prompted by whom, I do not know. (Interruptions)

SHRI CHANDRA SHEKHAR (Ballia, U.P.) : Mr. Chairman, Sir, the House is considering the Punjab problem. I will fail to discharge my national responsibility if I do not say few words about the questions raised by some members. My opinion about Punjab is not a new one, it has long roots in the past. My opinion is that Punjab problem cannot be solved with the help of oppressive measures. I am also of the opinion that a blunder has been committed from the beginning in realizing the Punjab problem and finding the solution thereto. I am sorry that the same is being repeated and I am sorry to know that a man like Shri Chavan, who is a man of experience and who is very well familiar with the politics and national problems has been compelled to bring this Bill. This was not the reason for this compulsion as there was no alternative left but the reasons this compulsion was the way in which the Election Commission has postponed the election.

After a long time I want to say it today that in my opinion the decision to postpone the election is the second serious national crime after the ‘Blue Star’. This operation has diverted the people of Punjab from the main stream forever. Mr. Chairman, Sir, through you I want to inform this House and the country that till the last moment I had been emphasising that this blunder must not be committed. I rejected very politely the advice given to me in this respect by the big officials who hold high posts in the Government and in the State. The decision was taken suddenly when election was to be held within 24 hours. I came to know through newspapers only. One day before I had suggested to wait for new Government to come. If you are in a hurry, let the same Government take the oath and they should take the decision.

Mr. Chairman, Sir, a lot of discussion usually is held here on the issue of secessionism. In my opinion, it will not be proper if the Government wants to enact some law or wants to promulgate and ordinance imposing a ban on secessionists from taking part in elections. I think, this step will prove suicidal. Postponement of election will also be another suicidal step. I do not want to comment on Election Commission. I do not want to repeat that others have already said. The Election Commission postponed the election at 2.00 A.M. without informing the Government or anybody else so the present Government has to bear the moral responsibility of its deeds. It is very strange as to how the Election Commission could muster so much courage as it could postpone the elections suddenly.

Shri Atalji is present here and he is a witness when Annadurai has delivered a speech continuously for one and a half hour and the whole House heard it silently. It is another matter that we opposed him and told him that their policy, their programmes, their thinking are not in national interest but none has demanded to get him out of the House. None demanded to seize his citizenship. I want to know as to how the Government can have the right to seize somebody’s citizenship? Each citizen who contests the election takes oath of the Constitution that he has faith in the Constitution and maintain the propriety of the Constitution. If some of our members, who are now in power, think that violation of the Constitution is a very serious crime, then I would like to know as to how many Articles of the Constitution are still being violated even today. Where is that right to equality where is the right to equal treatment with harijans and adivasis in our country? Our directive principles, which are the guiding principles of our Constitution, are being continuously violated. But no Prime Minister resigns, no Home Minister resigns, none loses his citizenship. When we can continue with the Prime Minister who violates the Constitution after taking the oath of the Constitution, why we cannot contest the election after taking the oath of the Constitution. If it is changed it will prove a blunder.

Mr. Chairman, Sir, through you, I would like to make a request to the honourable Minister to Home Affairs to think even now and not to commit more mistakes in future. We have time even now to hold election in Punjab. Just now one honourable Member was saying that economic assistance should be provided to Punjab. It was the opinion of one hon. Member that you have to try for economic development of Punjab if you want to fight with terrorism, I think if terrorism is going on in Punjab due to lack of economic development, it would have grown in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa a long back. However economic development should take place in Punjab. But it is our misfortune that we have a little knowledge about the problems in Punjab. Sir, if we do not want to go into the deep of the problems, we cannot find their solution. Hundreds year before Guru Nanakdev once said “Ek onkar sat nam”. But Hindu- Sikhs are fighting there itself in the name of religion. They are killing each other. This is the question of sentiments. That is why, Atalji was saying just now that Hindu and Sikhs are not fighting, but such sentiments are being created. I would like Shri Atalji to think seriously as to why these sentiments are being created. Hindu society was believed to accomodate every one. But what happened it today. I have repeated several times and it is also written outside the House “There is only one goal to reach the God”. Many of our philosophers suggested various ways in this regard but our society is getting disintegrated in the name of religion. We must hold discussion about it.

Mr. Chairman, Sir, we will have to win the hearts of the people of Punjab to solve the Punjab problem. We have to remove frustration and the ill feelings which they have in their hearts. They think that justice has not been done with them, they have not been treated equally. I do not say that all this is true, many things may be based on doubts. But we are going to strengthen those doubts by passing this Bill today. Doubts have been increased due to the postponement of election. If the Government commits mistake of passing the another Bill or promulgates some ordinance, we will definitely loose the people of Punjab from us. How can bear silently the disintegration of the country before our eyes. Mr. Chairman, Sir, I would like to urge you to use the dignity of your post, your powers and your honour to guide and direct the Government in proper way. We cannot change the society by using powers of the authority. To change the mentality of the people there, we must understand the feelings and sentiments of the people. We must try to heal the hearts of the people which have been hurt. By repeatedly asserting our power and influence, we are just displaying our inefficiency and helplessness. The Punjab problem can be solved if we try to unite the people of the country with strength and force peaceful means I do not want to comment whether these elections would have proved dangerous for the country or otherwise. One hon. Member had commented that the step had been taken to achieve cheap popularity but it should be remembered that some people had opposed the holding of poll not only in Punjab but in Assam also. The people who were responsible for the postponement of poll in Punjab, opposed the elections in Assam also. But elections were held in Assam peacefully and successfully and people belonging to the same party emerged victorious. Mr. Chairman, Sir, one should admit one’s mistakes openly and honestly, because we cannot construct bright future by repeating the past mistakes.

Mr. Chairman, Sir, you should not allow the Government to repeat the same mistakes again. Therefore, I would like to request this House not to pass this Bill.