NEW DELHI: India has taken strong exception to US President Bill Clinton’s letter to Congressman Gary Condit on the Punjab situation coming in the wake of a series of negative pronouncements and said it was likely to have negative impact on our bilateral relations.

India’s commitment to human Rights and democracy was ‘axiomatic to India’s existence the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Jan23. We do not accept external prescriptions in this regard.

The ministry spokesman said the Indian envoy in the United States had been asked to convey the country’s concern and indicated New Delhi would await a further reaction on the issue from the US government. Delhi’s objection follows the publication of excerpts from a letter Bill Clinton wrote in reply to one from Congressman A Condit on human nights in Punjab

Noting there had been an improvement in the situation Clinton said he shared the Congressman’s desire for a peaceful solution that protects Sikh rights.

A solution has indeed been attained in Punjab by the people of Punjab by democratic means Rights of all Indians in Punjab including Sikhs were protected under the law regardless of religion.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also issued a statement criticizing Bill Clinton’s letter. Contacted by ENS Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party spokesmen too objected to American Interference.

Obviously referring to the earlier revelation of a letter Clinton wrote to Ghulam Nabi Fai of the Kashmiri American Council offering to work with him for peace in Kashmir the External Affairs ministry noted the leer came in the wake of a series of negative pronouncements from India’s point of view on such issues as Kashmir human rights and Punjab.

A Congress-I spokesman said the US observation was unfortunate as it came at a time when relations between India and the US had shown improvement.

A BJP spokesman condemned the mention of Sikh rights and called the Clinton letter interference in India’s domestic affairs.

The CPI (M) statement issued by its Politburo said Clinton’s letter on Punjab and the earlier one on Kashmir showed regard for India’s territorial sovereignty and obliquely encouraged the secessionist forces

On Punjab Clinton has raised the dangerous concept of protecting Sikh rights which will encourage the Khalistanis.

The Narasimha Rao government must make amply clear that the American president’s stand was inimical to Indian interests and a gratuitous interference in its internal affairs the CPI (M) said.

All India Youth Congress presidents Maninderjit Singh Bitta on Jan.23 strongly criticized the letter written by the US President Bill Clinton.

In a statement issued here he said in the secular India all citizens had equal rights irrespective of caste or creed and there was nothing like Sikh Muslim or Christian rights. Such divisive moves were meant weaken secular India.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 28, 1994