Sikhs
for Justice (SFJ) is a human rights organization, which is leading an
international campaign to secure the release of Professor Devenderpal Singh
Bhullar submitted a memorandum to PM Manmohan Singh urging to abandon the
"double standard" practiced by his government on the issue of "Death
Penalty".
Comparing the cases of Sarabjit Singh who
is on "Death Row" in Pakistan and Professor Bhullar who is on "Death Row" in
India, the memorandum submitted to PM Singh exposes stark contradiction in
India's stand on the issue of "Death Penalty". The memorandum urges
Government of India to take a uniform stand on the issue of "Death Penalty"
following the UN General Assembly Resolution 62/149 of 2008 which calls upon
all states that maintain the death penalty to completely abolish it
reminding that the use of the death penalty undermines human dignity and any
miscarriage or failure of justice in the implementation of the death penalty
is irreversible and irreparable.
While SM Krishna External Affairs Minister
of India is leading a campaign to secure the release of Sarabjit Singh from
the custody of Pakistan on the other hand P. Chidambaram, Union Home
Minister has recommended for execution of Professor Bhullar. Sarabjit Singh
was involved in bomb blasts in Lahore and Faisalabad in which several
innocent civilians were killed. Professor Bhullar is on "Death Row" in India
for past seventeen years based on a confessional statement obtained through
torture in Police custody.
According to attorney Gurpatwant Singh
Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ, Government of India must abandon the double
standards on the issue of "Death Penalty" and treat the cases of Sarabjit
Singh and Professor Bhullar uniformly and follow the UN General Assembly
Resolution 62/149 of 2008 which calls upon all states that maintain the
death penalty to completely abolish it. Government should. "If the
Government is honest about securing the release of Sarabjit Singh then
before asking for his release from Pakistan, it must first set an example by
commuting the death sentence of Professor Bhullar", added attorney Pannun.
Why Government of India is forcefully
lobbying with Pakistan Government for the commutation of death sentence of
Sarabjit Singh while at the same it is determined to execute Professor
Bhullar right in its own capital, questioned attorney Pannun. It is evident
that Congress ruled Government of India is using Sarajbit Singh's case only
to win some popularity among Sikh community which has distanced itself from
the party since the June 1984 attack on Golden Temple and November 1984
Genocide of Sikhs, stated attorney Pannun.
To view the memorandum sent to PM Singh,
please click here:
Memo to PM Singh