Sant Demands Chandigarh Without Award

NEW DELHI, July 18—The Akali leader, Sant Fateh Singh, urged the PM, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, today to “hand over Chandigarh to Punjab and take an early decision about other Punjabi-speaking areas”. He is reported to have told Mrs. Gandhi that Chandigarh was built after demolishing about 70 Punjabi-speaking villages and this area was a part of Punjab. He reiterated that he was conveyed an assurance by Mr. Hukam Singh, Governor of Rajasthan, during his fast in December 1966 that the PM would give her award about the Punjabi-speaking areas. The assurance did not imply that the award would be given only if both States agreed to it.