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Behaviour Of Indian Government Towards British Visitor

EDM number 1577 in 1993-94, proposed by Jeff Rooker on 17/10/1994.

That this House notes that, following the arrest and detention under the Indian Official Secrets Act on 4th July of Baktwar Singh, a British citizen on a visit to Punjab State, India, Mr Singh made allegations of torture and other maltreatment by the authorities: records that after his first application for bail was refused, he appealed, and in allowing bail on 22nd September, Judge V.K. Jhanji made reference to Mr Singh being kept in illegal custody, and allowed bail because the only evidence offered was that of a camera and photographs which upon independent investigation showed that the photographs could not have been taken by the camera in question, and in addition the possession of a map of Jalandher City which was found to be readily available in the area; regrets that the Indian authorities are persisting in blackmailing Mr Singh by refusing to drop the charges and return his British passport unless he withdraws the charges of maltreatment; is disappointed that the Indian High Commission in London have failed over the past three months to respond to requests from the honourable Member for Birmingham, Perry Bar, to look into the issue of repressive behaviour by the Indian authorities; and believes that Mr Singh should have his passport returned to him unless the charges are to be pursued, in which case Mr Singh's claim of maltreatment should be independently investigated so that the report can form part of his defence case.

This motion has been signed by a total of 17 MPs.

MPDateConstituencyPartyType
Jeff Rooker17/10/1994Birmingham, Perry BarrProposed
Max Madden18/10/1994Bradford WestSigned
Lynne Jones18/10/1994Birmingham, Selly OakSigned
Jim Dowd18/10/1994Lewisham WestSigned
Norman Godman18/10/1994Greenock and Port GlasgowSigned
Harry Barnes18/10/1994North East DerbyshireSigned
Janet Anderson19/10/1994Rossendale & DarwenSigned
John Spellar19/10/1994Warley WestSigned
Robert Parry19/10/1994Liverpool, RiversideSigned
Eddie Loyden20/10/1994Liverpool, GarstonSigned
Michael Connarty20/10/1994Falkirk EastSigned
Jack Thompson20/10/1994WansbeckSigned
Jeremy Corbyn21/10/1994Islington NorthSigned
Martyn Jones26/10/1994Clwyd South WestSigned
Ken Livingstone27/10/1994Brent EastSigned
Terry Davis27/10/1994Birmingham, Hodge HillSigned
Mike Hall27/10/1994Warrington SouthSigned

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