Congressman pleads for Mann the Honorable P.V. Narasimha Rao Prime Minister of India New Delhi, India Dear Prime Minister Rao this Come to my attention that Mr. ‘Simranjit Singh Mann, a former Member of Parliament and senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal political party in Punjab is being denied a passport and continues to be charged with Crimes under the expired Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA). Lam writing to express my Concern regarding these matters.
Mr. Mann has been detained under TADA three times, but has not been convicted of a crime under the law. While Tam pleased to know the Indian Parliament has allowed TADA 10 expire, the real test of democratic reform will be whether nonviolent Leaders such as Mr. Mann are detained, harassed, or otherwise deprived of their basic human rights in the absence of this law, which did not conform to international human rights ‘Standards.
That is why it is troubling to me that charges may still be pending against Mr. Mann under TADA for giving a speech in which he advocated the nonviolent creation of separate state In addition, I understand that your government is denying a passport to Mr, Mann, Freedom to travel is an internationally recognized right, and ‘one that democratic nations should seek to uphold,
I urge you to allow Mr. Mann the freedom to travel. I would further urge you to put the issue of TADA to Test by withdrawing pending charges against Mr, Mann under that expired law.
Please put my interest in Mr. Mann’s case on record, and I thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
Dayid E. Bonior
Member of Congress
US House of Representatives Washington, DC
Article extracted from this publication >> October 6, 1995
