BATHINDA: Simranjit Singh Mann in a press release here has advised the Indian army chief to withdraw all army units from Punjab which according to him are acting against the law and Sikhs. Expressing concern over the increasing role of the army, Mann informed the army chief that deployment of the army against civilian population contravenes the St Petersburg convention of 186 7 and Hague convention of 1902. He said Indian history shows that General I S Gill GOC in c western command refused to deploy soldiers in civilian clothes at the Boat Club rally organized by Mrs. Gandhi during the Emergency in19 7 6.
Later his successor Lt. Gen Sinha refused to attack Chowk Mehta to arrest Sant Bhindranwale. Describing the use of soldiers against civilians as violation of international law Mann, asked the chief to learn a lesson from Blue star and the disgraceful retreat of the Indian army from Lanka,
Mann appreciated the statement of R.S. Uppal SSP Hoshiarpur endorsing his party’s stand that the police top brass was hand in glove with smugglers, extortionists and murderers.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 27, 1990
