AFDR regrets life term to three youths

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 10

Members of the Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR) have expressed their concern over the judgement of a Nawanshahr-based court wherein three Sikh youths were sentenced to life imprisonment for keeping incriminating literature and books. Members of the association termed it a dangerous trend and attack on democratic rights.

Notably, the court has convicted the accused on the basis of incriminating books and literature, which were kept by them for propaganda and inciting people to establish ‘Khalistan’.

The association members in a press note issued on Sunday said the Sikh youths were not involved in any anti-national activity that proves that they were acting against or waging a war against the state/country. But the court has sentenced them to life imprisonment for merely possessing books and literature. They did not cause any threat to internal security of the country, the press note stated.

State president prof AK Maleri and general secretary prof Jagmohan Singh have opposed the move and termed that the decision was politically motivated. They added that there was no evidence against the accused of involvement in any violent act or export of weapons. Moreover, the content of the books or literature in their possession is not banned.

Such decisions would dilute the democratic rights/values of the country. Under the Hindutva agenda, writers, intellectuals and critical thinkers are attacked in a democratic set-up. This type of approach not only degrades the basic premise of freedom struggle but also violates the fundamental rights of the citizens of the nation.

'not involved in any anti-national activity' 

The association members in a press note issued on Sunday said the Sikh youths were not involved in any anti-national activity that proves that they were acting against or waging a war against the state/country. But the court has sentenced them to life imprisonment for merely possessing books and literature. They did not cause any threat to internal security of the country, the press note stated.