The Honorable P.V. Narasimha Rao Prime Minister of India New Delhi, India

Dear Prime Minister Rao, we are pleased to learn recently through the Council of Khalistan, that Sikh leader

Sunyanjit Singh Mann has been released, we are distressed, however that Mr Mann has only been released on bail and that the charges against him remain in place. It is very disturbing that charges are still pending against Mr. Mann under an expired, repressive law, and that Mr, Mann continues to be denied his passport: As the leader democratic nation, how can you allow his repressive action to continue?

Mr. Mann’s only “crime” is speaking out for a free and sovereign Khalistan, the independent Sikh homeland declared on October 7. 1987. Indian courts have ruled that speaking for an independent Khalistan is not a crime. Even so, Mr, Mann faces charges and the denial of his passport because he addressed a crowd of 50,000 Sikhs in December 26 and asked them to raise their hands if they support an independent Khalistan, All 50,000 present raised their hands.

It has also come to our attention that V.T, Rajshekar, the editor of the Dalit Voice and 1 prominent spokesman for the black untouchables, or Dalits, has also been denied a passport. Mr, Rajshekar’s passport is being withheld because he is a strong advocate of basic human rights for the Dalits, as you know, violations of the rights of Dalits are routine even in the face of your widely proclaimed effort we remove the caste system from Indian society.

Like Mr. Mann, Mr. Rajshekar has committed no crime. He has merely been writing forceful articles protesting continuing violence against the millions ‘of Dalits in India, articles that your government describes as “inflammatory.” The Supreme Court of India has ruled that Mr. Rajshekar’s guilt must! Be proven before his passport ‘can be taken, but it has been taken away. Holding passport is a right of every citizen in a democratic country. The freedom to travel is as fundamental as the right to vote.

Mr. Prime Minister, it takes more than elections to make a democracy. The pillars of democratic order are respect for the law and for basic human rights. Both Mr. Mann and Mr. Rajshekar’s are seeing their human rights and their rights! under Indian ‘Law violated, How can a democracy have such blatant disrespect for its own laws.

We respectfully ask that you restore the passports of Mr. Mann and Mr. Rajsekar immediately, and that all charges against both men be dropped. Speaking out about abuses strangles democracy. To charge these men for speaking out is a betrayal of democratic principles. Continuing to charge them diminishes India’s stature in the eyes of the world. We call upon you to restore the passports of Mr. Mann and Mr. Raishckar immediately.

Sincerely,

Philip M. Crane, Mel Hancock,  Yan Hilleary, Ron Packard, ‘Sam Johnson, Barbara Vucanovich, Peter King, Randy King, Randy Cunningham, Jack Metealt, Dan Burton, Lincoln DiazBalart, Joe Scarborough Gary Condit Pete Geren Dana Rohrbacher ‘Jack Fields Neil Abererombie

Willlam Jefferson Floyd Flake William O. Lipinskl John T. Doolittle Edolphus Towns Gil Gutknecht Melvin L. Watt Mike Forbes Bernard Sanders Duncan Hunter Erld G. Waldholtz Tleana RosLehtinen Henry Hyde

Amo Houghton

Jim Trafieant Richard Pombo Sanford Bishop Richard “Doc” Hastings Jennifer Dunn Victor O, Frazer David Dreler Esteban E, Torres Gerald Solomon Wally Herger Collin Peterson Scott Klug

Donald Payne Ronald V. Dellums Roscoe Bartlett Lamar Smith Charles Wilson Roscoe Bartlett Walter Tucker IIT Robert G. Torricelli John Porter

Carlos RomeroBarcelo Bill Richardson.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 11, 1995