WASHINGTON: The International Sikh Secretariat of WSO in Washington D.C. held a meeting and Press Conference on Capitol Hill on Jan.21 on India’s worsen Ng Crisis and its Human rights violations was explained by a roster of crudité speakers.
S.Didar Singh Bains, Int. President of W.S.O., welcomed the guests, speakers and media reporters and asked them to bring media attention to the escalating violation of human rights in India. “All minorities are affected by wanton killings” he said, “and Punjab bleeds every day.” He said “The Army should be removed from Punjab, and human lives saved.” He urged the media present (German TV & radio, U.A.E. Press, V.O.A., Washington Times) to tell from their hearts the real story of Punjab.
Mrs.Kamal Sethi, Prof. of Medicine at Georgetown University and Anchor of Sikh Broadcast News, a weekly TV program in Washington gave an excellent speech going back in history and explaining the covert and oven aspects of these violations. She emphasized that the recent demolition of Babn Masjid and the situation in Punjab is now exposed to the world and the world now understands the open warfare conducted in India, against the citizens. Harbans Singh, W.S.O. delegate from New York said emphatically “Since India gained independence more people have been killed in India by the Indian authorities than in the wars between India and China and India and Pakistan. He explained logically that mass movements start when citizens are denied their rights and ao rule of terror is un leased on the citizens. India is a terrorist Stale, ruling her citizens with terror and the world should open its eyes to the flagrant violators of human rights for her people. Amnesty International has been refused entry into Punjab to document the truth. It is time the freedom loving nations of the world called a spade a spade and realized that when a government kills, butchers and maims its citizens it is ruling by terror.”
Dr.RS.Bajwa spoke of India playing “cruel Danvinism” and subjugating her people. Sikhs have been labeled “terrorist” to give open signals for the authorities to go after them. Now the world has seen the reckless annihilation of Sikhs and Muslims and other minorities. Our press here has not been kind and has not taken up the issue squarely. At first the western press insisted we bring them data for 500 human rights violations in Punjab, we did and the press then called for S000 and yet nothing from the press. Then we had Justice Bains come with facts and documented data and still the coverage is not adequate.
Other erudite speakers were Dr.Naunihal Singh, and S.Sumer Singh. They wanted all Sikhs to unite to create peace in Punjab. Punjab’s survival and existence is at Stake. We live here in the center Stage of the world. Let us take our message to the world. All minorities were urged to fight for freedom and human rights. The meeting was attended by notables and intellectuals from both coasts. The violations of human nights in India are acts of desperation. This meeting was another step forward to crystalize the turmoil in India and draw attention to the treatment of minorities and bring out the startling facts.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 29, 1993
