NEW DELHEI: Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi announced a number of measures to alleviate some of the suffering in Punjab on March 3. He said he would reduce the sweeping emergency powers of the Police in the some parts of the state allowing some foreigners into Punjab and release many of the Jodhpur detainees. Gandhi, however did not announce any schedule for these measures.

The move was seen as a response to the recent bill in the United States Congress which asked the President to stop the most favored nation trade status to India till it takes measures to stop the human rights violations there.

Many Innocent To Be Released

The measures announced by Gandhi include the release of many of the 189 innocent pilgrims who have been kept in jail in Jodhpur since July 1986 when they were arrested from the Golden Temple in Amnisar. No charges were ever filed against them and no compensation has been announced for their wrongful confinement.

A report by the Amnesty International Human Rights Organization and the “Indian Human Rights Bill of 1989” as well as a similar document in the Congress last year had demanded the release of these innocent individuals. Others in detention are said to be political activists by the government and it has announced that they will be tried for “waging war” against India in Punjab rather than outside the state as at present.

Guilty will be punished

Gandhi announced that these laws will apply to the Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab but was to be lifted from the rest of the state. He did not say when this would be done.

He also said that those guilty of the 1984 anti-Sikh violence would be punished. At least 3,000 Sikhs were killed by rampaging mobs in New Delhi and other places ruled by the Congress I party. Independent commissions of inquiry have indicted ministers in the Gandhi cabinet for their instigating and encouraging and orchestrating the anti-Sikh mayhem.

Public Relations

In an accord with the late Sant Harchand Singh Longowal a few years ago, Gandhi had promised to set up a official commission of inquiry to investigate the riots. Witnesses at the commission were intimidated and beaten up and human rights groups finally walked out of it in disgust.

Political analysts said, Gandhi use of innocent pilgrims as political pawns, is not fulfilling any commitment of the Longowal accord and his general anti-Sikh attitude are not likely to bring any confidence in his announcements which are more for Public relations rather than any genuine will to improve the situation.

No foreign journalist

Gandhi made the announcement in the parliament where he said that foreigners would now be allowed to visit the Punjab. No foreign Journalists would, however be allowed in the State. Foreigners have been banned entering into Punjab since June 1984.

The sweeping powers available to the authorities and the draconian National Security Act in Punjab give the police the power to arrest anyone on suspicion of being a “terrorist” and keep him under detention indefinitely without producing him before a magistrate as is the norm.

Well documented reports by retired judges have enumerated the gross violation of human rights and the preventive detention “black laws” enacted especially for the Punjab and not the rest of India. Under such laws an accused is held guilty till he proves, in a special court, that he is innocent.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 10, 1989