June 19, 2010 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
Canada (June 19, 2010): Sikhs for Justice on behalf of victims of 1984 Sikh Genocide has written an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting an in person meeting with him while he will be in Canada for G8/G-20 summit to reiterate the Sikh community’s adherence and commitment to non-violence and democratic norms. While the Sikh community has raised concerns and at times criticized the Indian government on the issues related to delay in prosecuting the human rights abusers and imparting justice to victims of November 1984, it nevertheless has categorically, unconditionally and unequivocally denounced and condemned violence and militancy by any individuals, groups or state.
Jasbir Singh one of the main witnesses against Congress (I) leader Jagdish Tytler for his role in 1984 killings, along with Mohinder Singh and Sarwan Singh Bhatia both of whom lost many immediate family member during November 1984 killings, urged for an in person meeting through Sikhs For Justice, in a letter sent to PM Manmhoan Singh through Indian High Commission in Ottawa and to Prime Minister’s Secretariat in New Delhi. The victims are represented by Sikhs for Justice a human rights advocacy which is striving to spread awareness about the 1984 Genocide in which thousands of Sikhs were killed across India.
According to Jasbir Singh, “all we have done is to raise voice over continued denial of justice to victims of November 1984 with the help of Sikhs for Justice and Sikh community in US and Canada” and in return through an organized and systematic campaign by the Indian officials, the prime minister has been given an impression that “campaign for justice” by the victims of November 1984 is a separatist movement.
According to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice, there is an organized campaign being run by the Indian officials to paint the Sikh community of Canada and USA as “separatists” the purpose of which is actually to defame and demoralize the Sikh community of Canada and US for their patronage of Justice Campaign for 1984 Sikh Genocide. Such an anti-justice and anti-people role by Indian bureaucracy is not a new phenomenon. In 1985, it was Indian ambassador to Washington Nani Palkhivala, who single-handedly helped the Union Carbide subvert justice for Bhopal Tragedy by filing a damaging affidavit in the District court of Southern District of New York. Nani Palkhivala statement caused the perpetrators to evade justice and ultimately led to dismissal of case. The victims and survivors of Bhopal tragedy paid a heavy price as they were denied justice for another 25 years. Similarly again it’s the Indian bureaucracy, specially abroad, that is causing hurdle in the way of justice for November 1984 victims by feeding false, baseless and misleading information to the Prime Minister and Indian Government back home.
Attorney Pannun stated that Sikhs for Justice will take opportunity of G8/G-20 summit in Toronto to launch campaign to spread awareness on the issue of Sikhs Genocide among the leaders of G-8/G-20 countries. Victims of Sikhs Genocide have already planned to meet with high commissions in Canada of G20 member countries to apprise them about the facts of Sikh Genocide and continued denial of justice to victims of November 1984. The member countries will be requested to take up the issue of denial of justice to the victims of 1984 Sikh genocide with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “Most of the G-20 countries are member and signatory to the UN convention on Prevention and Punishment for the Crime of Genocide which requires its members as per Article 1 not only to recognize but also act to prevent and punish the guilty of the crime of genocide”, added attorney Pannun.
Attorney Pannun further stated G-20 member countries will also be requested to use their influence and ties to impress upon India to grant access to International Human rights groups and organizations into India especially the State of Punjab in which thousands of Sikhs have been systematically and deliberately killed because of their religious beliefs.
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Related Topics: 1984 Sikh Genocide, Human Rights, Indian State, November 1984, Sikhs for Justice