Talk:Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act

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Hi, the article mentions that "Muslims were systematically targetted and subjected to custodial torture and murder". Please cite a source for this statement. --Spartiate 09:39, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

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Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/India_Basher


[edit] India Basher

India Basher is a term often used by reporters for a few prominent western politicians who are critial of India as a political entity (see references below). It has specifically been used for who have supported separationist movements in India. It is also occasionally used for writers who are seen as being critical of India.

Origin of Anti-India bias:

This map reflects the findings of Freedom House's 2006 survey Freedom in the World, concerning the state of world freedom in 2005.      Free. Freedom House considers these states to be liberal democracies.      Partly Free      Not Free
This map reflects the findings of Freedom House's 2006 survey Freedom in the World, concerning the state of world freedom in 2005.      Free. Freedom House considers these states to be liberal democracies.      Partly Free      Not Free

India became independent in August 1947, and adapted a constitution in January 1950. As Churchill had written on the even of India's independence [1], a country of 18 official languages, 1652 dialects and numerous distinct social groups, was not expected to survive as a united nation. It was believed that a democracy can survive only in a relatively wealthy nation.

Independent India has struggled with poverty, crop failures, disorders, wars, corruption etc. Yet democracy has managed to survive and India has now become an example for the third world.

India's first Prime Minister Nehru chose an independent course for India, independent of both USA and the Soviet Union. India emerged as a major proponent of non-alignment movement. This caused several western politicians to become hostile to India.

Outsourcing to India has recently caused some anti-India feelings, specially in USA [2], however it is widely recognized that being a part of the global market-place is actually good for USA [3].

Anti-India Legislations

A few politicians in the west, specially in USA, have been active in introducing anti-India legislations and have opposed aid to India.

In 1997, HR 182, the Human Rights in India Act, was sponsored by Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) and Rep. Gary Condit (D-CA). to cut-off U.S. development aid to India until the president certifies to Congress that India has taken "certain steps to prevent human rights abuses" in India. Another resolution, H. Con. Res. 37, sponsored by Condit and Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-CA) called for an internationally-supervised plebiscite in Punjab on the question of independence for the region. Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh of the Council of Khalistan was involved in these legislations [4].

Dan Burton introduced H.R. 4641 in 1990 to terminates United States developmental assistance for India in regards to "barbaric atrocities were being committed against the Sikh and Kashmiri communities by the India regime" [5].

Support of the Separationist movements:

Several prominent politicians in the West have been supporters of the separationist movements in India. These movements include:

Prominent India Bashers:

The major politicians who have been termed "India basher" include the following.

  • Edolphus Towns, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, from New York. He has been a supporter of Khalistan and Nagalim. In the US House of Representatives on 26/27 July 2000, a statement by him, John T. Doolittle of California, and Dan Burton of Indiana stated:
"1. India's campaign of terror against minorities is clearly designed to wipe out the minorities. It is time to declare India a terrorist state and it is time to cut off American aid to India to help strengthen the hand of human rights there. And we should support self-determination for all the minority nations seeking their freedom from India. The predominantly Christian nation of Nagalim, which India holds, is about to begin talks with the Indian government of their political status. I hope that these talks w ill be the beginning of freedom not just for the people of Nagalim but for all the minority peoples and nations of South Asia."
"2. Strong action must be taken. We should cut off India's aid until human rights are respected. We should demand self-determination for the people of Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagalim, and the other minority nations under Indian rule in the form of a free and fair plebiscite on the question of independence. That is the way democratic nations do it. Is India the democracy it claims to be or not?" [7]
  • Dan Burton, member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana. He has been a supporter of an independent Kashmir and Khalistan. [8]. On Oct. 7, 1994, he declared in the U.S. House of Representatives [9]recognizing the "seventh anniversary of the declaration of Khalistan":
"On October 7, 1987, 10 years ago today, major Sikh organizations in Punjab and around the world declared the independence of Khalistan--their homeland. I rise today in part to mark this important and solemn day. The fact that this independence movement has persisted for 7 years under the withering oppression of Indian security forces is a tribute to the Sikh people."
"I rise also to recognize the work of the Council of Khalistan, based here in Washington, DC, and supported by Sikh communities across the country. Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, the president of the Council of Khalistan, has worked tirelessly over the last 7 years to bring the suffering of the Sikhs to the attention of the Congress, the administration, and the world community."
  • Jesse Helms, former five-term Republican U.S. Senator from North Carolina. In 1982, he had circumvented the State Department's refusal of a visa to separatist Khalistan activist Jagjit Singh Chauhan by inviting him to testify before a Senate agriculture committee he headed. [10]
"The tendencies in India will follow those in other parts of the world, a centrifugalism, .... I'm thinking of the break-up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia."

They have sponsored activities of the anti-India separationist groups by introducing and supporting legislations opposed to India being a unified nation.

Some of them have been accused of having received financial support from Pakistan [13] and separationist groups. [14][15]

[edit] Recent developments

The relationship between India and USA have undegone remarkable changes since Clinton's 2000 visit to India [16], and specially after 9/11 attack in 2001. India is no longer an ecomonic basket case, but is now widely regarded as a major economic partner of USA; as well as an ally in the war on terror.

There is now an increased respect for India's democracy. Thomas L. Friedman writes in New York Times (October 9, 2002):

The more time you spend in India the more you realize that this teeming, multiethnic, multireligious, multilingual country is one of the world's great wonders - a miracle with message. And the message is that democracy matters. ... This truth hits you from every corner. ...50 years of Indian democracy and secular education, and 15 years of economic liberalization, produced all this positive energy. [17].

Dan Burton, who visited India in March 2006 [18], appears to have changed [19].

UK, which had long tolerated the Kashmiri Militants (actually Mirpuri) in UK, encoutered a series of bomb attacks in London (21 July 2005 London bombings), the majority of terrorists were of Pakistani/Kashmiri origin. [20]. Impact of this is yet to be seen.


[edit] See also

[edit] Links

[edit] References

  • Pakistan Lobbyist's Memo Alleges Shakedown by House Probe Leader, Charles R. Babcock, Washington Post, Wednesday, March 19 1997. [22]
  • Edolphus Towns, Council of Khalistan's recent press release, Records of the the House of Representatives of the United States Monday, September 9, 2002[23]