Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank you all for inviting me here today to discuss a very critical issue in today’s world events, the future of the Punjab.

Since being elected to Congress in 1982, have I maintained a deep and longstanding interest in the Human Rights situation in India.

Unfortunately, the policies and actions of the current government of Prime Minister V.P.Singh have made it extremely difficult to monitor this situation as closely as is necessary.

Despite this difficulty, most of the reports coming out of the Punjab as well as the information provided in your letters, revolve around one common theme the brutal denial of basic Human Rights.

Iam not the only member of Congress who provided in your is outraged at the Human Rights situation in India. Earlier this year, I introduced a bill (H.R.4641) to a developmental assistance to India until Homan Rights organizations are allowed to letters, revolve around one common theme: The brutal enter India in order to monitor the Human Rights situation. To date, 63 ‘members of congress have cosponsored my bill.

Recently, the Indian Government announced that it will grant vise’s to officials from Amnesty International, while I welcome this decision, [am still concerned that India will attempt to place procedural hurdles before Amnesty officials will prevent them from fully conducting their investigations.

In a recent discussion with the Ambassador of India, I learned that Amnesty International will have to submit an itinerary to the government outlining the extent of the investigations that Amnesty plans to conduct. It is not difficult to imagine what the govt. will use this information for. In addition, I was just informed by Amnesty International that they will not be allowed to enter India before the end of the current session of the India parliament. The Indian govt has also failed to clarify to Amnesty International whether Amnesty will be allowed to visit the Punjab. To date, no officials from Amnesty have entered India.

While Human Rights groups, like Amnesty, are fighting to enter India, reports of Human Rights violations continue to grow. In their 1990 report, Amnesty International highlighted such Human Rights violations as the unwarranted imprisonment of social welfare workers, trade unionists, and other peaceful activists. The report adds that the Indian govt. has also arrested and help these prisoners’ relatives with the purpose of using them as hostages,

It is not difficult to understand why Human Rights abuses around in India. India’s own laws encourage these Human Rights abuses. In 1984, India instituted the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities Acts (TADA), which allows for the arrest and derailment of any person for up to two years without charge, trial, or access to legal counsel.

Indian repression does not stop at the imprisonment of citizens. Amnesty also reported that over 50 people died after torture in police custody. Several hundred Indian citizens may have been extra judicially executed.

‘As you are all aware, the Sikhs in the Punjab are most often the victims of Indians repression. In March, when the honorable Max Madden, a British member of parliament, visited the Punjab, he reported that barbaric atrocities were being committed against the Sikh and Kashmiri communities by the India regime. Specifically Madden reported, “I shall not forget the young Sikh who was shot as a militant after he stood with his arms above his head in a field for five minutes.” The police later admitted that they had made a mistake. “I shall not forget the relatives of the young man who was shot while marching in a Sikh Religious Festival,” Madden said. The police again admitted that they had made a mistake, present a clear picture of the inhumane conditions which now exist in the so called world’s largest “democracy”.

Many in this country are now focusing their attention on the crisis i cast. Unfortunately, the crisis continues to go unnoticed by the American public, the press, and most importantly the USS. Congress.

It’s time to knock down the wall, which hides the world’s largest so called “democracy”, from the scrutiny of the international Human Rights community. It’s time to hold India to the same Human Rights standards to which we hold every other democracy in the world, Most importantly, it is time to give the Sikhs in the Punjab the same freedom’s that we enjoy here in the United States.

India has launched a campaign of terror in the Punjab designed to suppress the popular uprising for freedom, The nearly 17 million Sikhs in the Punjab demand nothing more than they were promised by Nehru at a Lahore Congress Party session in 1929 “The Congress assures the Sikhs that no solution in any future constitution (of India) will be acceptable to the Congress that does not give the Sikhs full satisfaction.”

For 42 years, the Sikhs in the Punjab have suffered senseless oppression at the hands of India. Thousands have been incarcerated or sent into exile; an untold number tortured or maimed. In many cased, the friends, children and relatives of those killed have been driven into military resistance, By and large, however, the struggle of the Sikhs has been peaceful.

‘As you all now, the Punjab is larger in population and territory than several countries now recognized as sovereign and independent. The Sikhs have their own history and culture, and a strong tradition of tolerance and amity between its different religious commtmities. India’s military occupation of this land has damaged the life and psyche of the people of the Punjab. It has also wrought havoc to peace and stability in the South Asian region. Today the world is ripe for freedom movements, From Eastern Europe to South Africa to China, despotic regimes are tumbling as people demand freedom and justice. The Sikh struggle for freedom is fought in the same spirit of freedom that rages in the hearts of men worldwide.

‘Once again, I would like to thank all of you here today for the valuable assistance and support which you have provided me and my staff regarding the situation in the Punjab. At the moment, the situation is not encouraging. However, I want you all to know that I will continue to fight on your behalf in the U.S.Congress with your help, we can bring both peace and freedom to the Sikhs in the Punjab.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 28, 1990