Chandigarh transfer issue
Justice K Mathew, who heads the one-man commission appointed to determine the Hindi-speaking areas of Punjab, which will go to Haryana in lieu of Chandigarh, indicated that the areas to be transferred will be from Abohar-Fazilka. He quoted Clause 7 (2) of the memorandum of settlement signed in July which states, “It had always been maintained by Indira Gandhi that when Chandigarh is to go to Punjab, some Hindi-speaking territories will go to Haryana.”
Assam Accord a poll issue
With the announcement of candidates for the delayed elections in Assam, it has become clear that the parties that have taken opposite stands over the Assam Accord would be fighting amongst themselves for a majority of seats both for the Lok Sabha and the Assembly. The Congress (I), which was the only party fighting all the 126 Assembly and 14 Lok Sabha constituencies, could be placed in a different category. Though the Congress (I) leaders point out that the Assam agreement would be the main plank of the campaign, it remains to be seen how aggressive a stand it takes.
PM Gandhi and Zia to meet
PRIME MINISTER Rajiv Gandhi will pay an official visit to Pakistan sometime in February to hold talks with President Ziaul Haq and PM Mohammad Khan Junejo. Pakistan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zain Noorani said Gandhi has accepted the invitation extended to him by Pakistan. Zia will meet Gandhi in New Delhi on December 17.
Vajpayee for talks with China
BJP PRESIDENT Atal Bihari Vajpayee demanded that dialogue continue on the Indo-Chinese border issue on a priority basis. He said an agreement should be hammered out on a sector-to-sector basis. The former foreign minister strongly pleaded for the resumption of traditional Indo-Tibetan trade. The revival of traditional trade and industry could salvage the economy of the hill regions.
