NEW DELHI: Major Hindu dominated parties such as Congress I, BJP, CPI and CPM joined hands to oppose the permission given to Amnesty International by the govt of India to visit Punjab and Kashmir to survey the human rights situation.
Congress I president Rajiv Gandhi who in recent weeks took the lead to settle political agenda on many an issue in a statement demanded Amnesty should not be allowed into India.
Congress I youth wing went to the extent of threatening that Amnesty representatives would be quarantined at Delhi airport.
CPI general secretary Inderjit Gupta asked Delhi not to allow Amnesty as this would amount to foreign interference in India’s affairs. He also said the decision was not taken by the cabinet. A similar view was expressed by the CPM politburo.
Akali Dal chief Simranjit Singh Mann on the other hand welcomed the permission given to Amnesty and condemned those who talked of blocking Amnesty representatives entry to Punjab.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 13, 1990
