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Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH, Jan 3: Former prime minister Inder Kumar Gujral today sought an explanation from the Central government on the attacks on the Christians and their religious places in Gujarat. Terming the incidents quot;dangerous and ominousquot;, he said it was not enough that the Centre was expressing its anguish about the matter. quot;The responsibility rests with the Centre and I demand an explanation as to what steps they are taking,quot; he added. When asked why he was not demanding dismissal of the government, Gujral said he was demanding more than that by seeking an explanation. On the recent developments in Akali Dal, he termed it an internal affair of the party.
Delivering the presidential address on the occasion of the 28th anniversary celebrations of the International Punjabi Convention here, he called upon NRIs to invest in Punjab, particularly in infrastructure. He was supportive of the idea of establishment of a hospital by NRIs in Punjab. In his keynote address, Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia offered the assistance ofthe Punjab School Education Board in organising courses in Punjabi language and culture for Punjabis living abroad. The president of the International Punjabi Society IPS, Bhai Mohan Singh, said that academic performance awards would be instituted and expressed the organisation8217;s commitment to bring about a quot;Punjabi renaissancequot;.
Earlier, local chapter IPS president Jaspal Singh Kandhari welcomed the participants while the annual report was presented by P.S. Bedi, honorary general secretary of the Society. Amarjit Singh Sethi, honorary general secretary of the Chandigarh unit, presented the vote of thanks.
Later, Gujral, who is chairman of the Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir Trust, paid a visit to the Musafir auditorium in connection with the 100th birth anniversary of Musafir, which falls on January 15.
