SAN FRANCISCO,CA: H.M.Patel,a22year young Hindu, native of India, who lived all his life in Gujarat and Bombay, who has never been to Punjab, was granted political asylum by the Asylum Director Faye Lothndge. Patel came to United States in December 1991, as a visitor. On March 20, 92 he filed his request for asylum claiming he feared for his life and liberty. He said he was raised amidst Sikh families and ‘studied with Sikh boys. “The Sikhs in Punjab are treated as revolting against the government of India. That is not true, They want separation from India and create thrown independent homeland called Khalistan. He told the asylum officer that he has worked with Sikhs and feel their concern. I have seen atrocities committed by fellow Hindus against Muslims and Sikhs. With strong lies with Sikhs and their freedom movement. 1took part in peaceful demonstration, satins, picketing, distributed literature telling what the Sikhs want and courted arrest. | was tortured, more especially that | am a Hindu and side with the Sikhs. I got beaten, and kicked in the face, hung upside down and more.”
He told the asylum officer that he was arrested in Bombay three times in August 1990 outside the Sikh gurdwara VT Bombay while chanting“ Khalistan Zindabad.” In March 1991, while visiting a book store on Princess Street, some Hindu boys Jumped upon him, the shopkeeper Called the police and arrested him. In November 1991, police entered his home, molested his father, handcuffed him and brought (0 police station, Questioned why being a Hindu he goes with Sikh protest marches? He told the police, there is no secret. I feel for the Sikhs and their demand for Khalistan and that is because of the central government’s fault to alienate the Sikhs. He said “my political opinion is that if someone does not want to live with another, there ensconced to keep them together by force, See what happened to USSR. The same is true of a husband wife situation, [understand and feel the problems Sikhs as a nation feel and I am one for them. Just before I left India, I was told to become an informer for the government, which I refused.”
Asylum Director concluded “that you have established a well-founded feat of persecution upon return to your homeland. Therefore, according to Section 208(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, your request for asylum is granted as of June 4,1993. This grant is for in definite period, After having been psychically present in United States for one year after the INS granted you asylum, you may apply for lawful permanent residence under Section 209(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Mohinder Singh, represented Patel with his asylum request being a unique case of a conscientious Hindu working with the All India Sikh Student Federation seeking formation of Khalistan.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 9, 1993
