Dialogue with Pak won’t dilute position: Preneet

She asserted India’s commitment to help in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. “The spate of terror in Afghanistan is indicative of the fact that the road to peace will be long and hard,” she remarked.

On the turban ban in France,the minister said the plea the Indian government has taken with the French authorities to settle the issue is that turbans do not form a part of religious symbols; and it is a cultural symbol. “Talks are under way. They have now agreed that the photographs of Sikhs with turbans will be allowed on documents,” she informed newspersons.

On the reported black list of Khalistani militants,Kaur said many featuring in the list need to be out of it as they have reformed themselves,and another review is likely shortly.

Kaur,who represents Patiala in the Lok Sabha,criticised the ruling alliance in Punjab for accusing the Centre of discrimination. “They have got more from the Union government than we (Congress) got when we were in power. The SAD-BJP government has failed on all fronts. They are selling government properties. For three years,there has been no heritage week celebrated in Patiala,because the area is represented by me and my husband (Capt Amarinder Singh),” she alleged.

To a query on her name doing the rounds in the party for the post of the Punjab Congress president,Kaur said,“I have been assigned a responsibility (at the Centre),and I have no intention to come to state politics.”