Swaranjit Singh Khalsa, member of Sikh Sewak Society International, wrote a letter to United States Senator Christopher S. Murphy regarding the release of Sikh prisoners who are illegally held by the Indian government after having completed their sentences. Thank you for contacting me about the imprisonment of Sikh separatists in India. I appreciate your correspondence and hope that you find this response helpful.
I strongly condemn the grave human rights violations and atrocities committed against members of the Sikh community in India during the 1980s. As you know, atrocities were committed by both sides during this painful chapter in India’s history. I support a full and transparent legal investigation by Indian authorities into the anti-Sikh violence of 1984, including an investigation of those who may have incited the mobs that perpetrated the violence. I also appreciate the position of those who have called for a legal review of the cases of Sikh prisoners who have remained incarcerated for more than 14 years in connection with the violence.
Please be assured that I understand your concerns regarding the fair treatment of Sikh people in India. I believe they deserve the same treatment under Indian law as followers of any other faith. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will continue to follow this situation closely.
Thank you again for contacting me about this matter. I appreciate hearing from you and assure you that I will always do my best to represent the views of my constituents in the Senate. In the future, please do not hesitate to call me in my Connecticut office at (860) 549-8463 or in my Washington office at (202) 224-4041.
Every Best Wish,
Christopher S. Murphy
United States Senator
It is unfortunate to read the Senator’s perception that atrocities were committed by both sides. Till such time as a truth/fact finding commission is not appointed, the truth of the attack on Darbar Sahib and the Nov.’84 pogrom will never be known, and this perception will continue to exist, thereby, in a way justifying the happenings of 1984.
Would like to share a somewhat comprehensive mail to be distributed to your viewers. Please advise course of action for the same.
I would request Mr. Swaranjit Singh Khalsa to draw to the attention of the Honourable Senetor Mr. Christopher S. Murphy that the Sikhs
are NOT Separatists.
They have fought jointly with HINDUS and MUSLIMS for the Independent
Of INDIA from British Rule in 1947-48.
Under the ANANDPUR-MATA Sikhs are now looking for Freedom and Justice
for their HOME-LAND-PUNJAB from the present Indian Government.
Sikhs are being treated as the THIRD CLASS Citizens of REPUBLIC OF
INDIA in 21st Century. There is one Rule of Law for the HINDUS and another for the Sikhs .