The following is the continuation of the text of “CITIZENS GUIDE TO RAJIV GANDHIS INDIA,” A book published by an Indian human rights organization, the People’s Union Of Democratic Rights. The book describes various new laws which have helped the Rajiv Regime to turn the once democratic India into an autocracy. Anyone can be arrested under these new laws which are still enforced in Punjab. An arrested person is presumed guilty till he proves that he is innocent. Hundreds are still in jail under these laws …

The National Security Act grants them this immunity because whatever they do in accordance with the objectives of these Acts Is assumed to have been done “in good faith.”

If you unwittingly stray anywhere near the Prime Minister or any one of his family members you can be shot dead by the Special Protection Group (SPG) and your friends or relatives cannot seek any redress since under the SPG Bill “no suit, prosecution or legal proceedings shall lie against any member of the group who does anything which is in good faith done …”

Your “good faith” has no place in the thinking of a government which provides no remedy in the courts by way of damages for a person who is subsequently shown to have been sent to prison for a crime he did not commit.

You Can Be Made To Disappear…

and your dead body may reappear somewhere.

Although the Government has not yet enacted any law to make you disappear the police can pick you up one fine morning and that may be the last will hear from you.

If you think it is a figment of our imagination, remember Hashimpura in Meerut. On May 22, 1987 several people were taken away in trucks by the Provincial Armed Constabulary. Later their bullet ridden bodies were recovered from canals, where according to eye witness accounts the PAC threw them after killing them,.

In Andhra Pradesh, for the last several years now,

“Somewhere along the line, you may finda niche for your personal survival. But at what cost? What sort of life are you opting for?”

political dissidents and civil liberties activists had been captured by the police, never brought before any court, shot dead and their bodies later shown as “killed in encounters.”

On July 11, 1989 the Assam Rifles launched “Operation Bluebird” in Oinam village in Manipur in retaliation against an attack on their camp by guerrillas of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland. Unable to apprehend the guernillas, the Assam Rifles personnel took it out on the innocent Naga villagers of Oinam. At least teenaged girls were kidnaped by the Assam Rifles personnel. They have not yet returned.

A Postscript For Citizens Who Have Not Yet Heard The Midnight Knock…

You may be accuse us of being prophets of doom of overstating dangers of spreading panic.

You may ask: “Why? Here we are still moving around in a free society, enjoying free press that every day brings court for us entertaining skeletons from the government’s cupboard. Where is the nightmare that you are conjuring up from laws that in any case are not relevant for us innocent law abiding citizens?”

You may say, “Punjab or Nagaland are distant exceptional regressions from our democratic standards. They therefore deserve such exceptional laws. We are sure the government will use these laws in a spirit of understanding and generosity sparing us innocent law-abiding citizens.

There were optimists like you in Germany in 1930’s.

“As we tried to prove to you till now, the scope of operation of these laws is menacingly stupendous and all embracing. They leave nothing to chance and nothing escapes them.”

Listen to their plight, as summed up by a civil liberties activist:

the Nazis came first for the Communists and I didn’t speak up because I was not a Communist. They came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me, and by that time there was not one left to speak for anyone.”

If you choose, you can go through the same process of elimination. Somewhere along the line, you may find a niche for your personal survival. But at what cost? What sort of life are you opting for? onists.

Do these options sound absurd? Unrealistic? Unnecessary? Since, the majority of our citizens can sill avoid such extreme decisions?

But you can soon be pushed into making these decisions since the laws both old and new that are on the statute books have all the provisions to compel you to

You can opt for the following:

stop meeting people, even your friends, since they might be suspected of being terrorists and thereby put you into trouble;

stop receiving letters, newspapers and magazines, since they may contain terrorist propaganda;

stop writing or speaking in public since it might be constructed as aiding and abetting terrorist and disrupt restrict your lives to the grooves dictated by the state,

And even then, are you sure one midnight the security men will not come and knock at your door?

As we tried to prove to you till now, the scope of operation of these laws is menacingly stupendous and all embracing. They leave nothing to chance and nothing escapes them. If today in Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay, or Madras you feel sure that they do not touch you, tomorrow “Remember how the National Security Act ostensibly meant for the defense of India against foreign enemies was used against an Indian journalist. Remember how villages of Hashimpura disappeared their bodies found later floating in canals”

any policemen can pick you up if you name resembles that of a dreaded terrorist or your face arouses suspicion, or even if your normal functioning in the course of your professional duties is considered as “abetting advocating, advising, inciting … disruptive activity” (Section 41 of TADA). There is hardly anything you do which can escape the staggering provisions of these laws.

If you are still not feeling their pinch, chances that they will be used against you are vastly increasing. Remember how the TADA, ostensibly meant for the Punjab terrorists was used against Gujarat workers. Remember how the NSA ostensibly meant for the defense of India against

“Begin to protest against the “Black Laws”. Talk to friends, neighbors, relatives, colleagues, fellow workers. Take part in actions. Join civil liberties groups.”

foreign enemies was used against an Indian journalist. Remember how villages of Hashimpura disappeared their bodies found later floating in canals. A Last Tip for Citizens who want survive in Rajiv Gandhi’s India…Begin to protest against the “Black Laws”. Talk to friends, neighbors, relatives, colleagues, fellow workers. ‘Take part in actions. Join civil liberties groups. Go to meetings.

Speak up, BEFORE THERE IS NO ONELEFT TO SPEAK FOR ANYONE.

This is the final installment of Rajiv’s India, which exposes his India as the repressive regime itis. This booklet will be made available to opinion and lawmakers all over the United States and Canada soon. We urge you to inform all American people of the facts about the repression of the minorities, including the Sikhs in India.

This regular feature is being brought to you by: World Sikh Organization, U.S.A

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 28, 1989