CHANDIGARH: Punjab Sangharsh Morcha will organise a hearing of public complaints on human rights abuses in Punjab at Chandigarh on November 1] after an earlier programme of the PSM was foiled by the police last week.
Gurbir Singh, a member of PSM, told the Press here that the complainants, witnesses, members of the enquiry commission and citizens were prevented by the police from entering the venue of the sitting at Lajpat Bhavan, Sector 15, without any authority of law by a massive show of armed force. This unprovoked action against legally assembled citizens suggested that the administration was contemptuous of public opinion and was afraid of being exposed.
Gurbir Singh, a son of former Punjab Chief Minister Gumam Singh, at one time with the congress (I) had left the party some time ago to express his disgust with the handling of the Punjab situation by the Central Government. He is now a member of the PSM which also includes the Mann Akali Dal.
Gurbir Singh said the PSM had set up a Punjabi Lawyers Association to investigate human rights abuses, corruption and the economic exploitation of Punjab during President’s rule. He said that the repression by the alien British rulers had paled into insignificance before the current harsh handling of the people of Punjab by the Central and State governments.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 9, 1990
