Over Seas

Human Rights lawsuit against CM Badal takes new turn – Witness Kalra admits meeting with Punjab Govt. Officials

March 12, 2013 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

New York, United States (March 11, 2013): According to Sikhs for Justice, a US based human rights advocacy group, in March 11, 2013 deposition proceedings in human rights violation law suit against Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Surinderpal Singh Kalra confessed that immediately prior to testifying in support of Badal’s claim of ineffective service of summons, Karla spent three hours with DIG Gautam, Additional Advocate General of Punjab Mr. Sidhu and NJ Gangte from the Consulate General of India.

“Kalra, ex Director of World Sikh Council, in February 21, 2103 hearing before Judge Adleman had testified that he was served instead of CM Badal at Oak Creek High School on August 9, 2012” reads a press release sent to Sikh Siyasat News by Sikhs for Justice.

“In today’s testimony Kalra testified that until February 18, 2013 when he accidently found the original summons in the trunk of his car, he “did not know that papers received by him on August 09 2012 were summons issued against CM Badal?”, it reads further.

Karla further testified under oath that he was chauffeur driven to Hotel Pfister in Milwaukee on February 21, 2013 where he was received by NJ Gangte and was escorted to a room where Punjab Administration Officers including DIG Gautam were present. As per Kalra’s testimony DIG Gautam, Sidhu and others were “representing CM Badal in some capacity”.

Upon questioning by attorney Robert Pavich, counsel for plaintiffs Sikh for Justice (SFJ), Kalra could not explain the purpose of his three hour long meeting in a closed room in Pfister Hotel with high ranking Badal Government officers immediately prior to testifying in the court. The confession by Kalra of having a closed door meeting with Badal regime officials makes his credibility questionable and rights group is going to subpeona complete phone records of Kalra. The closed door meeting of DIG Gautam, Sidhu and Gangte with Kalra confirms that Badal regime is pressurizing witnesses to save CM Badal from the human rights violation lawsuit in the US.

According to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ, rights group is in the process of issuing subpoenas to Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, Bachan Singh Gill and a US based SAD (Badal) party worker Lakhwant Singh Komal to unveil the motives of Kalra in claiming service of summons on him and saving CM Badal from human rights violation lawsuit. Dhaliwal, Gill and Komal are in constant touch with Kalra and Badal’s associates, added attorney Pannun.

On March 02, rights group filed a complaint with US Attorney General’s office against high ranking officers of Badal regime for their activities in the United States to protect CM Badal in the human rights violation lawsuit.

SFJ, along with Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (SAD-Mann) a Sikh political party of India filed a complaint in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin against Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of the Indian State of Punjab under Alien Torts Claims Act (ATCA) and Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA).

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Related Topics: Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, Human Rights, Parkash Singh Badal, Punjab Government, Sikh Diaspora, Sikhs for Justice, Sikhs in United States

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