July 4, 2013 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
London, United Kingdom (July 04, 2013): As per information available with Sikh Siaysat News (SSN) there has been fresh efforts in the UK Parliament against the death penalty of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, who faces thread of execution in India.
It is learnt that an Early Day Motion (EDM) has been table in the Parliament of UK by MP Jim Cunningham of Labour Party from Coventry South, who is listed as Primary Sponsor of the motion. MPs Tom Clarke, Mark Ritchie Durkan, Russell Margaret and Jim Bob Shannon are sponsors of this EDM.
It is notable that “Early Day Motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very few are actually debated. EDMs allow MPs to draw attention to an event or cause. MPs register their support by signing individual motions”.
The EDM tabled by MP Jim Cunningham on June 24, 2013 reads as follows:
EXECUTION OF PROFESSOR DEVINDERPAL SINGH BHULLAR
Session: 2013-14
Date tabled: 24.06.2013
Primary sponsor: Cunningham, Jim
Sponsors: Clarke, Tom Durkan, Mark Ritchie, Margaret Russell, Bob Shannon, Jim
That this House notes with concern the multiple injustices in the case of Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and his subsequent state of mental health; further notes the recognition of these injustices, and the details of the case, by human rights groups including Amnesty International, Reprieve UK and Human Rights Watch; further notes that Professor Bhullar was sentenced to death in 1995 and that the Indian Supreme Court has declined to commute the sentence; further notes therefore the imminent execution of Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, following 18 years on death row; further notes the vigil against this outside 10 Downing Street, which has now been ongoing for more than 50 days; calls on the Government to condemn the impending execution of Professor Bhullar; further calls on the President of India to show clemency and commute the death sentence of Professor Bhullar; and urges the Foreign Secretary to prioritise this matter in discussions with the Indian government.
It is learnt that the Kesri Lehar organizers have issued an appeal to the public at large, especially the Sikhs residing in the United Kingdom, to contact their respective MPs to urge them to support this EDM.
As per information available with Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) 24 people have signed this EDM so far, 14 Labour Party, 2 Democratic Unionist Party, 2 Liberal Democrats, 1 Conservative Party, 1 Plaid Cymru, 1 Independent, 1 Alliance Party and 2 Social Democratic and Labour Party MPs.
It is notable that Prof. Bhullar was arrested by India in 1995 and was sentenced to death in a controversial manner in lack of concrete evidence in 2001. The Supreme Court of India (SCI)
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Related Topics: Death Penalty, Jim Cunningham MP, Kesri Lehar, Prof. Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, Sikhs in United Kingdom