Sir,

There is a new kind of disinformation and propaganda which Indian government is indulging in. An example of this is a recently published article by a Washington columnist Naryan Keshavan, in his column “Washington View” in the tabloid News India, which makes a number of assertions that strains the reader’s credibility.

He says that the Republic Day function in Washington was marred by the protest against the Indian government’s policies in Kashmir and Punjab. It smacks quite the same as the Chinese authorities saying that the Gorbechey visit to Beijing was marred by the Tinamen Square protest. Governments do not like protests to “marr” their carefully orchestrated scenarios, and surely Keshavan, as an American would not like to deny the people he calls extremists, their democratic right to demonstrate peacefully.

Is India not Hindu dominated? How then would Mr. Kespavan explain the fact that almost no one who killed a member of the minority communities has ever been punished in a court of law? Would he like to make his this statement to the survivors of the hundreds killed in the Ram Janambhoomi frenzy, the survivors of the thousands who were killed in anti-Sikh carnage in 1984 and subsequently.

The better standard of living and literacy rate in Azad Kashmiris well known to all.

As for the democratic nature of the country, if indeed things were so hunky dory, why would there be nationalist strife in so many parts of the country, in Kashmir, Punjab, Gurkhaland, the seven North Eastern States and so on?

Mr. Keshavan says, “I get my dander up when my motherland is vehemently ridiculed… So do us, especially when well documented facts are brought out on the horrifying police atrocities against the Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. Or is Mr. Keshavan trying to imply that only he is the privileged one to “get his dander up.””

He attributes Mr. Aulakh’s success to the ineptness of Indian diplomats, one would make a strong case that it is the horrifying facts of repression which he presents, and which others would like to deny, that make him so effective.

Let it not be said that we disagree Mr. Keshavan says. We quite agree when he says, “what saddens me is the general incompetence and impotence of the 800,000 strong Asian Indian communities in setting the record state in the United States about India.” When will some brave Indians stand upon and face the truth?”

Harpreet Kaur New York, NY

Correction

The letter last week (WSN Feb 16) ‘One Justice…’ was by Dr Satwant Kaur Damoon of New York.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 23, 1990