Mr. Gurmej Singh Gill, Prime Minister of Khalistan Govt in exile, objected to remarks attributed to the Chief of West Midland’s Police. Mr. Geoffrey Dear, in the media coverage of his recent tour to the Punjab,
Impress statement, Mr. Gill has described the remarks as “enemy inspired untruths, calculated to defame the Sikh Nation.”
He was commenting on the news interns appearing recently in newspapers, telecasts and broadcasts.
The text of his statement is:
“The Chief Constable of West Midlands, Mr. Geoffrey Dear has, according to recent newspapers accounts, has said that the British Police will cooperate with the Indian Security Forces in the latter’s drive against the Sikh struggle for independence being waged in the Punjab. He has also hinted at action against the Sikhs to Britain who have sympathy and support for this struggle.
“In an obvious reference to some Sikh Organization including the International Sikh Youth Federation and Mr. G.S. Gill, the Prime Minister in exile of Khalistan. Mr. Dear has also talked of taking action against them. He has vaguely hinted at their support of terrorism and has indicted at some unknown measures against them. “All this coming from a respectable and highly placed police officer of Britain is very biased and ill informed. These statements obviously fed by the interested party the Indian Security Forces are very sad and do not at all, reflect the reality of the situation. As for the Government in Exile is concerned. We have never advocated violence or terrorism.
The Government of India has twice denied the possibility of British Parliamentary delegation to Punjab on a fact finding mission. It is also well known fact that Punjab has been no go area for the overseas media representatives and the recent sponsored walks offered to brief foreign officials is another way of official misinformation regarding the true situation in the Punjab.
“The scale of violation of human rights of Sikhs in the Punjab and other provinces of India are documented fully by now, and testified by several organizations and the Amnesty International in London. Mr. Dear should have utilized the visit to study those draconian laws enacted by Indian authorities which have been used to summary execution, jail without trials for years, and killing by police in false encounters of thousands of the Sikhs.
“I advise him to talk to the Sikhs in the Midlands and other parts of Britain who are law abiding citizens of this country and proud of British relationship. They have legal right to be concerned for their brothers and sisters plight at home. They have a moral duty to appraise the British Government of the violation of human rights of the Sikhs of Punjab and are only utilizing the legal means to do so.”
Article extracted from this publication >> April 14, 1989
