Extensive lobbying against Stephen Solarz’s nomination as U.S. Ambassador to India has precipitated the withdrawal of his nomination. Although the State Department had started briefing him on India he was never officially nominated. Last week he withdrew his name on his own.
IHRO and other officials had organized a nationwide campaign opposing Solarz’s nomination after he was considered for it. They arranged for telegrams to be sent to the White House and the State Dept. asking the Clinton Administration to not go through with the nomination. Hundreds of telegrams were sent to the White House by Sikhs from all over the country.
The messages got through that Mr Solarz was as launch supporter Of the Indian Govt. on Capitol Hill. He had defended its human rights record in Punjab and Kashmir and justified the suppression Of Sikhs and Muslims in India. He visited India several times but ignored the problems of non-Hindu Indians and his appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to India would be a blow to the Human Rights movement in the world.
The IHRO North America in a Stalement said we were concemed with Solarz’s nomination because he was never objective towards issues in India specially those of Human rights. As chairman of the House of Eastern and Pacific affairs committee he blocked congressional hearings on human rights issues in India. Dr.Singh added we hope that the Clinton administration will appoint some One objective and unbiased who will raise issues of minority rights especially of the Sikhs Muslims and Christians. Our thanks to the various Sikh Organizations and individuals who joined in this campaign which contributed to the withdrawal of Ms Solarz’s nomination as the U.S. Ambassador to India.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 25, 1994
