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Letter Requesting Dismissal of Member of India's National Commission for
MinoritiesApril 27, 2011 Honorable Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India New Delhi India Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh ji: In response to the heinous pogroms against Sikhs in Delhi and across India during the first two weeks of November 1984, you had offered an unconditional brief apology nearly 21 years later in the Indian Parliament on August 11, 2005 with these words “I have no hesitation in apologizing not only to the Sikh community but the whole nation because what took place in 1984 is the negation of the concept of nationhood enshrined in our constitution… On behalf of our government, on behalf of the entire people of this country, I bow my head in shame that such a thing took place.” In the context of your apology, it is particularly disheartening that prominent politicians of your Congress political party who directly, and in person, provoked the carnage of innocent Sikh citizens of India have still not been brought to justice. A brave witness to the direct involvement of one such perpetrator is now being dissuaded from providing her testimony. In the last few weeks, reputed Indian media have widely reported on video-recorded evidence of a senior member of your own Congress Party and of the National Commission for Minorities, Mr. Harvendra Hanspal, pressuring Ms. Nirpreet Kaur (whose father had been brutally murdered in the pogroms) to not testify against Mr. Sajjan Kumar, one of the prime accused in the Delhi pogroms as well as a former Member of Parliament and current member of your Congress Party. Your silence on this recent matter has been deafening. If your apology as outlined above is sincerely held, we earnestly appeal to you to “walk the talk” by taking appropriate action at this time by dismissing Mr. Harvendra Hanspal from the National Commission for Minorities. Mr. Hanspal’s lack of integrity has now been exposed and he is no longer fit to serve as a member of the Commission whose primary objective is to protect the rights of minorities in India. Mr. Hanspal has abused his membership of the Commission and his continuance on the Commission is detrimental to the interests of minorities (particularly the Sikh community) and the public at large. In accordance with the National Commission for Minorities amended Act of 1995, Chapter II, Article 4.iii, we request that he be removed as a member of the Commission in line with the very essence of such a Commission, and particularly in line with the sentiments expressed in your parliamentary apology. We urge you to rise above partisan politics as a statesman and make good on your verbal apology by dismissing Mr. Harvendra Hanspal from the membership of the Commission. This is an opportunity for you to showcase to India and the world that your parliamentary apology was sincere and you are morally committed to the path of reconciliation. We look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Sincerely, Dr. Tarunjit Singh (Butalia) Secretary General World Sikh Council – America Region Cc: President of India Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities, India World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) P.O. Box 3635, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Phone: 888-340-1702 Fax: 888-398-1875 E-mail: contact@worldsikhcouncil.org Web: www.worldsikhcouncil.org ****************** Member Gurdwaras of WSC-AR:
1. Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society, Stockton, CA |
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