A US based Sikh human rights group has sought criminal prosecution of Indian Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath during his upcoming visit to Belgium for his alleged role in the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.
Taking advantage of Kamal Nath’s upcoming visit to Belgium to address the 5th EuroIndia Summit in Leuven next Thursday, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has approached the Belgian government to initiate his criminal prosecution, the group’s attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Belgian law provides for ‘extra territorial jurisdiction’ to criminally prosecute individuals for crimes against humanity and genocide committed outside Belgium, he said. It also does not provide immunity to any heads of states or other dignitaries.
Under this law, criminal prosecution was initiated against former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, for his role in the 1982 Sabra-Shatila massacre in Lebanon, Pannun said.
In a letter to Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme, SFJ urged him to bar Nath’s entry into Belgium saying ‘Nath’s entry will become a black spot on Belgium’s impeccable record of commitment to human rights.’
SFJ also plans to hold a protest rally in Leuven Oct 13.
In April, SFJ had initiated civil proceedings against Kamal Nath in a US Federal Court in New York which issued summons to him.
International Panthic Dal encourages to the European Sikh community to write letters to your MEP’s to start a criminal prosecution against Kamal Nath’s crimes: Sign petition online here
- In 1984, Kamal Nath was Member Parliament (Lok Sabha) Constitutency ‘Chhindwara’, Madhya Pradesh.
- During the “November 1984 Sikh Genocide”, Kamal Nath led mob that came to the Gurdwara Rakabganj, Delhi on November 1, 1984 and instructed the police to open fire on the Gurdwara Sahib, where a large number of Sikhs were killed
- Under instructions of Kamal Nath, Police men present at the scene instead of preventing the attack, joined the attackers and fired several rounds at the Gurudwara Sahib
- Sikhs burnt alive laid in critical condition in Kamal Nath’s presence and died due to lack of Medical Assistance
- Police Commissioner Gautam Kaul verified Kamal Nath’s presence while the Gurudwara was attacked and Sikhs were burnt alive
- “I had noticed that Mr.Kamal Nath was controlling the crowd and the crowd was looking to him for directions”, Senior Journalist Sanjay Suri in his statement before Nanavati Commission
- “Outside the Gurdwara I saw a crowd of about 4,000 men led by Congress-I leader Kamal Nath… I saw the bodies of two men, both Sikhs, still burning on the roadside”, Senior Journalist Sanjay Suri in his affidavit before Mishra Commission
