Amnesty has not indulged in anti-national activities: Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Amnesty International India has never involved itself in any kind of anti-national activities, state Home Minister G Parameshwara said today, even as it faced sedition charges over an event held by it here in which anti-India and anti-Army slogans were allegedly raised.
“Amnesty International is not new to Bengaluru; this organisation has been functioning here for a long time. I don’t know nor I have heard in the past about it (Amnesty) or anyone from it involving in any anti-national activities,” he said.
“They (Amnesty) had organised a programme about Army’s excesses in Kashmir. They had called a few families (from Kashmir) to console them and give them some sort of mental support, in which certain incidents took place about which an FIR has been registered,” he said.
Amnesty International had on Saturday last organised the event as part of a campaign to seek justice for “victims of human rights violations” in Jammu and
Kashmir, which took an ugly turn with heated exchanges and alleged raising of pro-Kashmir ‘Independence’ and anti-Army slogans.
ABVP activists had submitted a CD containing video recording of the event after filing a complaint with police, who have registered an FIR against Amnesty International, including on sedition charge.
IPC sections– 142 (being member of an unlawful assembly), 143 (whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) have been invoked against Amnesty.
Criticising BJP and ABVP for holding protests, Parameshwara said now that an FIR had been registered, ABVP were holding protests on the streets.
“What is your culture? What are you trying to do? What kind of society are you trying to build?” “They (protesters) are students, they are not aware of anything, those who had gone for classes are being brought forcefully (to protest), this is BJP’s culture,” he added.
ABVP activists have been staging protests, demanding the arrest of those who allegedly raised anti-India and anti-Army slogans at the event organised by Amnesty International India.
During one such protest in front of Amnesty International India office here yesterday, police resorted to a mild lathi charge during which a few students were injured.
ABVP today intensified its agitation by launching a day-night protest here.
Several state BJP leaders and party’s women’s wing also staged a protest here condemning police action against ABVP activists and demanding arrest of those involved in alleged anti-Army sloganeering.
I’m all for free speech and human rights. Did Indian army make a few mistakes? Probably Yes – Nobody is perfect. BUT BUT BUT…..Let’s not kid ourselves here – We are NOT dealing with a honest group. The Amnesty international has lost its entire credibility by failing to stand up to real abusers of human rights. Where were they when Kashmiri pundits were attacked, killed and forced to leave their homeland? Where was Amnesty when a specific group acted like organized mafia, bullied the entire media and turned journalists into mere stenographers by threatening them not to publish any cartoons… Read more »