NEW DELHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today raised questions over the tendency of human rights activists to bat for human rights of terrorists and convicted prisoners and not security forces as he referred to the hue and cry raised over hanging of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon.
He said India has a healthy democracy but it does not mean that someone can hold the nation to ransom with guns in hand.
Addressing a conference of National Human Rights Commission here, Singh said Memon was executed after completion of all due judicial process.
“He was convicted by the highest court of the country – the Supreme Court. But in that case also some people tried to raise the issue of human rights. For a person like me, I failed to understand why such things are raised,” he said in the presence of representatives of state human rights commissions.
Memon was hanged on July 30. Even after his mercy plea was rejected twice, some activists approached the Supreme Court Chief Justice late at night on July 29 seeking postponement of the hanging and in an unprecedented development, the apex court heard the matter at 2 AM on July 30, before disposing it off.
Referring to the issue of some organizations raising the issue of human rights of terrorists, Singh said he gets worried by such trends.
“I get worried when some people raise the issue of human rights of terrorists and extremists when security forces resort to self defense action. These people consider more important the acts of terrorists and extremists and their human rights than that of security forces.
“I have no hesitation in telling those people and organizations that in India we have a healthy democracy. Where there is a healthy democracy, how can we allow people place their demand with guns in their hands?” he asked.
The Home Minister asked legal luminaries and human rights experts to give suggestions on how to deal with this tendency.
“If someone can give any suggestion, they may be legal luminaries or human rights experts, we can act only after your recommendations. It is your responsibility,” he said
The Home Minister also expressed concern over some prisoners languishing in jails more time than the actual term they are supposed to be in jail.
“It is a serious matter and we all have to address it.
We have already written to state governments to take necessary action,” he said.
The Home Minister also voiced concern over human trafficking and said there should be detailed Standard Operating Procedures for re-integration, repatriation and rehabilitation of victims of the menace.
Singh said human rights have been an integral part of Indian culture and Indian saints have highlighted the idea of rights of whole universe, include plants and animals.
“Even before UN Charter on Human Rights came into existence, Indian culture was aware of not only human rights but also of the animal rights,” he said.
The Home Minister said autonomy of institutions like NHRC should remain sacrosanct and cooperation and coordination between NHRC and state human rights commissions should be strengthened.
In his presidential address, Justice Cyriac Joseph, Chairperson, NHRC, called for amending the Protection of Human Rights (PHR) Act so as to make the rulings of the various Human Rights Commissions (HRCs) binding on central and state governments.
He also called for provision of some form of human rights in states and regions where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is in force, making the PHR Act void in such places.–PTI
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