:dateline:Sikhs across the globe are seeking United Nations intervention to secure the immediate release of nearly 118 Sikh political prisoners held in various jails in India.
Recently, MAR � Movement Against Atrocities and Repression, presented a petition to the United Nations Human Rights, OHCHR, Geneva in Switzerland concerning violations of Human Rights in India.
MAR delegation was led by Master Karan Singh, along with representatives from Switzerland, Germany and Italy and was also accompanied by a leading Human Rights Activist, Dr. Charles Graves, of Inter-Faith International, a NGO based in Geneva.
The delegates brought to the knowledge of the UN that Mr. Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, a Sikh farmer, from Kurukshetra, is on a hunger-strike, demanding release of 6 Sikhs jailed since the 1990s in various prisons in India.
The motive of his hunger strike is to inform the International Community about the plight of Sikhs, a Religious and Ethnic community in India.
In his action, he is not demanding the release of Sikh prisoners only but also those belonging to other Religions and Minorities, who are languishing in various jails in India.
There are 6 Sikhs languishing in the jails of the federally – administered territory of Chandigarh and in the Punjab, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh states. �Three�of the six Convicts were arrested in 1995 for their alleged role in the assassination of Punjab’s then – Chief Minister, Mr. Beant Singh, in a car bombing and were sentenced to life in prison.
Mr. Karan Singh, added �every Sikh prisoner has been accused and tried so far under TADA has been given
a minimum sentence of 20 years. Although, review of their cases and release is overdue, regretfully the Indian justice system is discriminatory and maintains double standards when it comes to review the cases of Sikhs, who are still languishing in jails, despite their ill health and old age�.
To some extent this true, non-Sikh, Indians sentenced to life for similar crimes have been released earlier.
For example, Mr. Sanjay Dutt, gets 5 years imprisonment, for a similar crime, this clearly proves that the Indian Justice system is discriminatory towards the Sikhs.
Dr. Charles Graves, said �since, a long time, he is well aware of the sufferings of the Sikhs because of their Religious belief in India. As their sufferings are genuine and serious, he is representing their issue whenever
and wherever he can�.
Since last 39 days, this Sikh farmer is on a hunger strike for a genuine cause of violation Human Rights but there is a total black out by the Regional, National and International Print and Electronic Media.
CNN, is the first and only international Media which gave coverage on this issue.
But when, Mr. Anna Hazare, a Hindu Activist was on 2nd day of hunger strike, it was regularly covered on front pages of all Regional and National newspapers and TV Channels. This clearly proves that the Media in India is influenced or controlled by the Government Authorities.
�It is a mockery of Democracy, the Fundamental Rights of Minority Religious and Ethnic groups are crushed by the Indian State and its citizens, Human Rights groups and Media is Silent�.
�We Sikhs are facing discrimination and are treated as 3-4 class citizens, are we meant to keep our heads down and accept all type of humiliation, atrocities and repression from a Government ruled by the Majority�.
�Teachings of our great Masters, say that we Sikhs should stand and fight against all atrocities and undemocratic institutions, forces and governments. And this is not acceptable to the corrupt, Government in the Centre, ruled by the Nehru-Gandhi Clan.�
�Irony is that all Democracies in the West, support the biased Government in India and praise, India as one of the biggest Democracy in the World, just because of their Trade relations. After ethnic cleansing of the Sikhs, these Democracies shall realize that unjust has been done to the SIKHS. It would be better if they Act prior before it is too late�.
