By A Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC: Six more Congressmen have cosponsored the Indian Human Rights Bill (HR. 1067) which was introduced by Congressman Wally Herger (R.CA), bringing the total to 28 according to a spokesman of the Congressman.

The new cosponsors are Representative Sam Gejdenson (D.CT), Representative Bill Crane (R. IL), Representative John Bryant (D.TX) Representative Cons B alleger (RCA) Representative Bruce Morrison (D. Vermont) and Representative John Bryant (D. TX).

The bill seeks to suspend India’s most favored nation trade status till the government achieves significant progress in the area of human rights and allows human rights groups to examine the situation there.(WSN Feb 24).

The Indian Embassy here has launched a massive effort, including hiring a lobbyist Bill Chassey, activating an Indian American Political Action Committee, led by Raj Dutt, bringing in a Sikh Indian Foreign Service R.S. Jassal, and spreading misinformation. (WSN March 31).

Ethnic Indian papers had published a report that Representative Bob Darman (R.CA) and representative’ Bob Mcewen (R.OH) were withdrawing as co-sponsors. of the bill along with three others. Ambassador P.K. Kaul, had attended a fund raiser for Doran on April 15 at the home of Raj Dutt of the Indian American PAC after which his “withdrawal” was reported by the ethnic Indian press.

They are not withdrawing and are still the cosponsors,” said the Herger spokesman. “It is just another example of the disinformation spread by the Indian government and its agents. Much of what they

“are saying is simply not true. Saying that eight Congressmen have ‘withdrawn their support is simply not true. Chasy said that eight Congressmen would withdraw but this did not happen,” he added.

‘The Indian pressure is having its effects and Representative Estaban Torres (D.CA) whose Hindu constituents met him and lobbied for Indian government has reportedly withdrawn as have Representatives Robert Torricelli (D.NJ) and Albert Bustamente (D.TX) .

The extent of Indian governments misinformation can be gauged from the fact that it even denied that the Congress had unanimously supported an amendment to the foreign aid bill last year that expressed the sense of the Congress that India should take steps to ensure that the religious and civil rights of its minorities were not infringed upon. India still denies that such an amendment exists! (WSN April 21).

Article extracted from this publication >>  May 5, 1989