Probe by central agency into Amnesty’s activities sought

Bengaluru, Aug 23 (PTI) A Kashmiri Pandit forum todaysought a probe by a central agency into activities of AmnestyInternational which, it alleged, has been selective in itsapproach and out to tarnish India’s image and of its securityforces and also sought a ban on the outfit in the state. Amnesty had been slapped with sedition charges over theAugust 13 event it held as part of a campaign to seek justicefor "victims of human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir,which took an ugly turn with heated exchange and allegedraising of pro-Kashmir ‘Independence’ and anti-Army slogans. "The case should be handed over to a central agency foran impartial probe into activities of Amnesty International inIndia which has been selective in its approach and out totarnish the image of India and its security forces," RomeshKumar Matto, chairman of Kashmiri Hindu Cultural WelfareTrust, said in a petition to state Home Minister GParameshwara. Mattoo also welcomed the minister’s clarification that hehad not given a clean chit to the rights advocacy group. "Your statement that you were misquoted by the media hassent positive signals and upheld the impartial nature ofsuccessive governments on the issues of nation’s security andintegrity," Mattoo said. Parameshwara yesterday had clarified that he had notgiven any clean chit to Amnesty International even asinvestigation in the case is underway. Mattoo said they were however "pained" over his earlier’premature remarks’ exonerating Amnesty of the responsibilityeven as police probe had not been completed. He also demanded a ban on Amnesty International inKarnataka for holding such events "which are one sided andincite the general public" and said government should questionheir intention and purpose of holding this event "at a timewhen Jammu and Kashmir is burning." Till date, Mattoo said, Amnesty International has focusedonly on so-called human rights violations by armed forces inKashmir and ignored the brutal killings of Kashmiri Pandits,security forces and role of terrorists in the valley. He alleged that the tone and tenor of the entireprogramme here was directed against Indian government agenciesand especially the Indian army. Mattoo also demanded that the NGO condemn the sloganshouting at the function and own up responsibility for it. "Itcannot take shelter under "freedom of speech" but at the sametime ignore responsibilities under the constitution," he said. Mattoo also asked Parameshwara to expedite the process ofidentifying and picking up those who shouted Aazadi and antinational slogans and book them under law to prevent suchincidents in future. The Trust said the event should not be politicised as theanti-India slogan shouting falls purely under the domain ofnation’s security and integrity. PTI BDN APRSMN