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Home , Bhajan Lal, Rohtak district, Sampat Singh

Country Advice Treatment of India National Lok Dal members – – Kakrala Sikh Welfare Organisation – Treatment of Sikhs 15 December 2009

1. Please provide an update on the results of the 2009 elections in relation to the INLD candidates in Haryana.

Outcome of the National Election in May 2009 in Haryana The 2009 Indian National () election took place over five weeks with voting in different areas of India between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009.1 Voting for all ten of Haryana‟s Sabha seats took place on 7 May 2009.2 The INLD failed to win even a single seat in Haryana.3 The Congress Party won nine out of the ten seats except for the seat which was won by Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) leader . 4 The (INLD) in Haryana is led by former chief minister . In order to challenge the ruling Congress party in this year‟s national election, the INLD formed a new alliance with the Bharatiya (BJP).5 The INLD nominated five candidates for the Lok Sabha seats it would share with the BJP in Haryana. The BJP announced nominees for the districts of , , Sonepat, and whilst the INLD nominated candidates for Hisar (former Finance Minister ), (INLD State President Ashok Arora), (Dabwali MLA Sita Ram), (Nafe Singh Rathee), and -Mahendragarh (INLD Secretary General Ajay Singh Chautala).6

Defections from INLD

1 Election Commission of India 2009, General Elections – 2009 Schedule of Elections, 2 March, p.12 http://eci.nic.in/press/current/pn020309.pdf – Accessed 20 April 2009 – Attachment 2; „Haryana‟s Lok Sabha battle is for a bigger war‟ 2009, Indo-Asian News Service, 20 April – Attachment 3. 2 Election Commission of India 2009, General Elections – 2009 Schedule of Elections, 2 March, p.12 http://eci.nic.in/press/current/pn020309.pdf – Accessed 20 April 2009 – Attachment 2. 3 „Congress repeats 2004 sweep in Haryana (Third Lead)‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 16 May http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/congress-repeats-2004-sweep-in- haryana-third-lead_100193509.html – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 1. 4 „Congress repeats 2004 sweep in Haryana (Third Lead)‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 16 May http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/congress-repeats-2004-sweep-in- haryana-third-lead_100193509.html – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 1. 5 „INLD announces candidates for 2 LS seats‟ 2009, United News of India, 27 March – Attachment 4; Ahuja, R. 2009, „INLD names candidates for polls‟, The Hindu, 30 March – Attachment 5; „210 in fray for 10 seats in Haryana‟ 2009, The Hindu, 23 April – Attachment 6. 6 „INLD announces candidates for 2 LS seats‟ 2009, United News of India, 27 March – Attachment 4; Ahuja, R. 2009, „INLD names candidates for polls‟, The Hindu, 30 March – Attachment 5; „210 in fray for 10 seats in Haryana‟ 2009, The Hindu, 23 April – Attachment 6

Page 1 In July 2009 it was reported that Sampat Singh, the nominated INLD candidate for the Hisar seat in Haryana, had joined the Congress Party citing differences over the way the party was being run by the family of former chief minister Chautala.7 In addition to Sampat Singh, it was also reported that Sushil Kumar Indora (INLD‟s deputy leader in the Haryana assembly), M.L. Ranga, Bahadur Singh, and Krishan Chand Karsa (head of the INLD‟s intellectual cell) had also left INLD and joined the Congress party.8

INLD-BJP Alliance In August 2009 it was reported that the BJP had severed its alliance with INLD.9 According to media reports, both parties were said to be at loggerheads over seat sharing for the Haryana Assembly election held in October 2009.10

Outcome of the 2009 State Assembly Election in Haryana On 13 October 2009 elections to the Haryana Assembly were held.11 The INLD won 31 seats (out of 90) in this state election with Congress winning 40 seats.12

2. Please provide any reports of INLD supporters in Haryana being targeted by Congress Party supporters after the elections, given that Congress won the election. Indian media reports indicate that, barring minor clashes between supporters of various parties, polling in the May 2009 national election in Haryana occurred generally peacefully.13 No available information was found to support the claim that INLD supporters were targeted by Congress supporters in the weeks which followed the May 2009 national election. However, during the subsequent Haryana Assembly election on 13 October 2009:

7 „Former Lok Dal leader joins Congress‟2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 27 July http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/former-lok-dal-leader-joins- congress_100223519.html -Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 7. 8 „INLD a sinking ship, Haryana Congress strides confidently‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 20 July http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/inld-a-sinking-ship- haryana-congress-strides-confidently_100220260.html – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 8. 9 „BJP breaks up with INLD in Haryana‟ 2009, DNA India, 24 August http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bjp-breaks-up-with-inld-in-haryana_1284733 – Accessed 4 December 2009 – Attachment 9; „BJP snaps ties with INLD in Haryana‟ 2009, Andhranews, 24 August, http://www.andhranews.net/India/2009/August/24-snaps-ties-24774.asp – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 10. 10 „BJP snaps ties with INLD in Haryana‟ 2009, Andhranews, 24 August http://www.andhranews.net/India/2009/August/24-snaps-ties-24774.asp – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 10. 11 „INLD starts Haryana poll campaign with big rally‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 25 September http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/inld-starts-haryana-poll- campaign-with-big-rally_100252403.html – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 11. 12 Election Commission of India 2009, „Assembly Elections Oct 2009 Results: Haryana‟, http://eciresults.nic.in/ – Accessed 8 December 2009 – Attachment 12. 13 „Polling for seat starts in peaceful manner‟2009, PunjabNewsline, 13 May http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/16604/38/ – Accessed 20 May 2009 – Attachment 13; „Peaceful polling, 55% turnout in Faridabad‟ 2009, Hindustan Times, 8 May http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=83218f89-0a26-4ac1-bf0a- 864467d8197b – Accessed 20 May 2009 – Attachment 14; „Haryana, Punjab register nearly 65 percent voting (Round up)‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 7 May http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/haryana-punjab-register-nearly-65-percent-voting- round-up_100189673.html – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 15.

Page 2  On 13 October 2009 4jat.com, a local Jat community website, reported clashes between supporters of the Congress and those of the INLD from Ferozepur Jhirka, leaving several injured. It also reported that in Mewat five people were injured in another clash between Congress and INLD activists.14  On 13 October 2009, DNA reported an allegation by the INLD, in a complaint to the Election Commission, that one of their activists had been abducted from Garhi -Kiloi constituency in . It also reported that skirmishes took place at Sirsa, Ambala, , Nagar, Karnal and other places leaving some injured.15  On 14 October 2009, Hindustan Times reported that an INLD worker “Qasim” was injured when some people opened fire in the Ferozepur Jhirka assembly constituency. It also reported that a scuffle broke out between the supporters of the Congress nominee from , Mange Ram Gupta, and the INLD candidate, Hari Chand Midha.16

3. Please provide available information on an election candidate Mr Arura (Arora?), including his history and activities. According to the INLD‟s official website, Mr. Ashok Kumar Arora is the current INLD President of Haryana State.17 He was also the nominated candidate for the Kurukshetra seat in the May 2009 Lok Sabha elections which he lost to Congress.18 Mr Arora was also the nominated candidate for Thanesar in in the October 2009 Haryana Assembly election.19 He won this seat.20

4. Please provide updated material, in the context of the post 2009 election period, on the extent of state protection available to members of the INLD in Haryana who may have experienced political violence. As outlined in Research Response IND34729, while India maintains reasonable free elections and accepts peaceful political activism, sources indicate that voters experience intimidation in some areas, and that corruption and criminality in politics undermines the effectiveness of

14 „69 per cent cast vote in Haryana‟ 2009, 4jat.com, 13 October http://www.4jat.com/jat_community_article.asp?jat_community=1454&category=News&keyword=IN LD – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 16. 15 „Haryana poll: Turnout 68%, violence leaves one dead‟ 2009, DNA India, 13 October http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.asp?n=1298660 – Accessed 4 December 2009 – Attachment 17. 16 „70% turnout, clash leaves Polling agent Dead in Guhla‟ 2009, Hindustan Times, 14 October http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/haryana/70-turnout-clash-leaves-Polling-agent-Dead-in- Guhla/Article1-464980.aspx – Accessed 4 December 2009 – Attachment 18. 17 „Office Bearers‟ (undated), Indian National Lok Dal website http://inld.in/office.html – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 19. 18 „INLD announces candidates for 2 LS seats‟ 2009, United News of India, 27 March – Attachment 4; Ahuja, R. 2009, „INLD names candidates for polls‟, The Hindu, 30 March – Attachment 5; „210 in fray for 10 seats in Haryana‟ 2009, The Hindu, 23 April – Attachment 6; „Congress repeats 2004 sweep in Haryana (Third Lead)‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 16 May http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/congress-repeats-2004-sweep-in-haryana-third- lead_100193509.html – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 1. 19 „INLD releases first list of candidates for Haryana poll‟ 2009, Andhra News, 4 September http://www.andhranews.net/India/2009/September/4-INLD-releases-first-list-26632.asp – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 20. 20 „Haryana Assembly Election Results 2009‟ 2009, thisismyindia.com, http://www.thisismyindia.com/election/haryana-elections.html#2009 – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 21.

Page 3 governments. It further highlights recent allegations by INLD leaders who have accused the Congress government of disregarding the security of the common people, and failing to take action against the “ruthless” . The Asian Centre for Human Rights confirms that the Haryana Police continue to be responsible for serious human rights violations such as custodial deaths, illegal detention, torture and rape. 21 There is very little updated material specifically addressing the extent of state protection available to members of the INLD in Haryana beyond what was outlined in Research Response IND34729 (29 April 2009). Nonetheless, of interest is a Human Rights Watch report published in August 2009 titled Broken System: Dysfunction, Abuse and Impunity in the Indian Police. It notes that in India: Since the late 1970s, senior police officers have remained at the mercies of state and local politicians who, acting on ambiguously worded supervisory authority in the Police Act of 1861, intervene in everyday police operations: officers are frequently told to drop investigations against people with political connections and sometimes told to harass or file false charges against political opponents.22 The Asian Centre for Human Rights 2009 Human Rights Report on India also stated that in Haryana: The state continued to fail to take sufficient action to tackle longstanding practices of human rights violations by law enforcement personnel who resorted to extrajudicial killing, arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and torture and violence against women and children in the course of their duties.23 And: The police continued to use disproportionate force during public protests. This resulted in the death of people while exercising their right to association and protest.24

5. Please provide any information available about the make-up and activities of INLD Executive Committees, especially in relation to the Kakrala Anayat in area. According to INLD‟s official website, Mr Om Parkash Chautala is the National President of the INLD, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora is the State President and Mr Ajay Singh Chautala is the Secretary General of the State Body of INLD.25 Details of the National Executive of the INLD can be found at Attachment 19. INLD has the following organisational structure:

(i) Primary units Village/Ward/Committees (ii) Intermediate units (a) Block / Tehsil/ Constituency Councils

21 RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response IND34729, 29 April – Attachment 22. 22 Human Rights Watch 2009, Broken System: Dysfunction, Abuse and Impunity in the Indian Police, August, p.36 http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/india0809web.pdf – Accessed 7 December 2009 –Attachment 23. 23 Asian Centre for Human Rights 2009, Human Rights Report 2009 - India, pg 70 http://www.achrweb.org/reports/india/AR09/AR2009.pdf – Accessed 7 December 2009 – Attachment 24. 24 Asian Centre for Human Rights 2009, Human Rights Report 2009 - India, pg 71 http://www.achrweb.org/reports/india/AR09/AR2009.pdf – Accessed 7 December 2009 – Attachment 24. 25 „Welcome‟ (undated), Indian National Lok Dal website http://inld.in/index1.html – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 25.

Page 4 (b) Block / Tehsil / Constituency Executives (a) The District Councils (iii) District Units (b) The State Executives (a) The State Councils (iv) State Units (b) The District Executives (a) The National Council (v) National Units (b) The National Executives26 No specific information was found about the activities of the Executive Committee members in area of Kakrala Anayat in Kaithal district except for a reference to Mr Kailash Bhagat, on the official INLD website, who is noted as the District President of INLD in Kaithal.27 The official INLD website further notes that: Any person of age 18 or above, who believes in the aims and objectives of the INLD and is not a member of any other political or communal organization which has separate membership and a separate constitution and who does not participate in the activities of such organization, can become a Primary member of the INLD on filling the form „A‟ and paying a biennial subscription of Rs. 20 /- only. Any Primary Member may become an Active Member by enrolling 25 other primary member, by signing a declaration in form „B‟ in the presence of office bearer of the party and by fulfilling the conditions laid down by the party. The term of every member and the committees elected by them will ordinarily be two years.28

6. Please provide any information available on the Kakrala Sikh Welfare Organisation and its activities. A search was conducted on the “Kakrala Sikh Welfare Organisation” on various search engines and local Indian government sites, however no information was found.

7. Please advise any sources that provide a good summary of the current situation of Sikhs in India.

Sikh Population in India Sikhs account for 1.9% (19,215,730) of the population of India.29 Under the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992, Sikhs (in addition Muslims, Christians, Parsis, and Buddhists) are considered minority communities.30 “Sikhs are doing well in most fields in India today…They hold high positions in the government, the armed forces and other fields such as economics”.31 The current Indian Prime

26 „Indian National Lok Dak Chronology‟ (undated), Indian National Lok Dal website http://inld.in/about.html – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 26. 27 „Office Bearers‟ (undated), Indian National Lok Dal website http://inld.in/office.html – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 19. 28 „Indian National Lok Dak Chronology‟ (undated), Indian National Lok Dal website http://inld.in/about.html – Accessed 2 December 2009 – Attachment 26. 29 Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, (undated) „Census Data 2001, India at a Glance, Religious Composition‟, http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/India_at_glance/religion.aspx – Accessed 9 December 2009 – Attachment 27. 30 US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – India, October – Accessed 7 December 2009 – Attachment 28.

Page 5 Minister , the Deputy Chairman of the Indian Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and the current Chief-minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal are all Sikh.32

Punjab Punjab is the stronghold of Sikhism. The Sikh population of Punjab accounts for more than 75% of the total Sikh population in the country 33 and approximately 60% of the population in Punjab are Sikhs.34 Punjab is the second richest state in India with a per capita income of Rs 25,652.35 There are clear divisions among Sikhs of the upper castes Jats and the Sikh Dalits.36 “The Jat Sikhs constitute the majority and own over ninety five percent of agricultural land in Punjab”.37 The Sikhs Dalits account for nearly one third of the population but hold less than three per cent of total agricultural land in the state and “make a living mostly as cobblers, barbers, and farm labour and other odd jobs”.38

Whilst there was a period of militancy amongst Sikhs in Punjab in the past39, in its Punjab Assessment of 2010, the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) recorded that Punjab remained

31 Sing, G. 2006, „Sikhism Indianized‟, Understanding Sikhism: The Research Journal, January – June 2006, vol. 8, no.1, p.7, http://www.iuscanada.com/journal/archives/2006/journ0801.html – Accessed 11 December 2009 – Attachment 29. 32 „Sikh‟(undated) Wikipedia website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 30. Please note: Wikipedia is a Web-based free-content encyclopaedia which is compiled collaboratively by volunteers. Wikipedia articles can be useful introductory reading for a new topic, and the list of references in Wikipedia articles can provide useful leads to reliable sources. Many Wikipedia articles can be highly reliable, especially in regards to non-controversial historical or factual matters, and Wikipedia uses preventative measures against vandalism, bias and inaccuracy. However, the collaborative nature of Wikipedia makes it vulnerable to contributors with overt or covert agendas, and Wikipedia articles are thus prone to unacknowledged bias. For more information, see the recommended background reading available in the Wikipedia Topical Information Package. 33 Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (undated) „Census Data 2001, Census and You, Religion‟, http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/religion.aspx – Accessed 9 December 2009 – Attachment 31. 34 „Punjab‟ (undated), The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia website http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Punjab – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 32 35 Machhan, R. 2004, „Punjab second richest state in country: CII‟, , 8 April http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/605728.cms – Accessed 9 December 2009 – Attachment 33. 36 Saldi, R. 2009, „Caste System amongst Sikhs in Punjab‟, Asian Tribune, 6 June http://www.asiantribune.com/node/18221 – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 34 37 Saldi, R. 2009, „Caste System amongst Sikhs in Punjab‟, Asian Tribune, 6 June http://www.asiantribune.com/node/18221 – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 34; Mahaprashasta, A.A. 2009, „Promised Land‟, Frontline, vol.26, issue 14, July 4-17 (http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2614/stories/20090717261403300.htm – Accessed 11 December 2009 – Attachment 35. 38 Saldi, R. 2009, „Caste System amongst Sikhs in Punjab‟, Asian Tribune, 6 June http://www.asiantribune.com/node/18221 – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 35 39 ENSAAF, 2005, „Punjab Police: Fabricating terrorism through illegal detention and torture July 2005 to August 2005‟, October, p. 5 http://www.ensaaf.org/publications/reports/fabricatingterrorism/ – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 36.

Page 6 peaceful throughout 200940 and a 2005 BBC News report claimed that the divide between Sikhs and has been bridged and the antagonism towards the Congress party has largely disappeared.41 Even so, in its report, SATP noted that intelligence sources indicated that a concerted attempt to revive militancy in the State is under way. It claims that in February 2009, a joint meeting between militants of the Islamist Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Sikh separatist Babbar Khalsa International chief Wadhawa Singh was held at Rawalpindi in , where they planned terrorist attacks in Punjab during the Lok Sabha election in May 2009.42 However, there were no media reports of such an attack having occurred during the election in May 2009 which local media reported as having passed peacefully.43 In its 2009 Human Rights report on India, the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) continued to assert that little has been done to address Punjab‟s poor record on human rights noting the ill-treatment of women and Dalits,44 however, the ACHR would not appear to be concerned about the treatment of Punjab Sikhs more generally and there were no recent reports of ill-treatment of Sikhs in Punjab were found amongst the research conducted.

Haryana Haryana is ranked the fourth richest state in India.45 The Sikh population of Haryana accounts for more than 5.5% of the total Sikh population in the country 46 and account for 15% of the population in Haryana.47 Chandigarh (16.1%), (4.0%), Uttaranchal (2.5%) and Jammu & Kashmir (2.0%) are other important States having Sikh populations.48 Research Response IND32432 (6 November 2007) provides an overview of the situation of Sikhs in Haryana noting that Sikhs are in the minority and that, though they have in the past

40 South Asia Terrorism Portal (undated), „Punjab Assessment Year 2010‟ http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/index.html – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 37 41 Biswas, S. 2005, „The fading of Sikh militancy‟, BBC News, 16 March http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3733271.stm – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 38. 42 South Asia Terrorism Portal (undated), „Punjab Assessment Year 2010‟, http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/index.html – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 37. 43 „Fifth phase: state-wide polling result‟ 2009, Rediff, 13 May http://election.rediff.com/report/2009/may/13/loksabhapoll-fifth-phase-state-wise-polling-report.htm – Accessed 11 December 2009 – Attachment 39 ; „Over 66 pc turn out in Punjab; polling peaceful‟, 2009, IndianExpress, 13 May http://www.indianexpress.com/news/over-66-pc-turn-out-in-punjab-polling-peace/458704/ – Accessed 11 December 2009 – Attachment 40. 44 Asian Centre for Human Rights 2009, Human Rights Report 2009 - India, p. 163 http://www.achrweb.org/reports/india/AR09/AR2009.pdf – Accessed 7 December 2009 – Attachment 24. 45 Machhan, R. 2004, „Punjab second richest state in country: CII‟, The Times of India, 8 April http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/605728.cms – Accessed 9 December 2009 – Attachment 33. 46 Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (undated) „Census Data 2001, Census and You, Religion‟, http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/religion.aspx – Accessed 9 December 2009 – Attachment 31. 47 Arora, K. (undated) „Haryana‟, Zee News http://www.zeenews.com/election09/state.aspx?sid=12&Isid=751&Nid=786 – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 53. 48 Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, 2007 „Census Data 2001, Census and You, Religion‟, http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/religion.aspx – Accessed 9 December 2009 – Attachment 31.

Page 7 been victims of violence spilling over from Sikh separatist conflicts in neighbouring Punjab, there have been no recent incidents of violence towards Sikhs in Haryana.49 It would not appear that Haryana‟s Sikh population have expressed any discontent about mistreatment during the recent elections, though some concerns were expressed about the official status of the and the administration of Sikh shrines. On 13 March 2009, The Hindu, reporting on the Lok Sabha 2009 elections, noted that a Sikh representative in Haryana claimed that the community would support the political party: …which comes forward openly to support the Sikh demands like according the second language status to the Punjabi language and its implementation in letter and spirit, to support the formation of a separate Haryana Sikh Parbandhak committee for the management of the Sikh Shrines in the State and to support the proportionate reservation for Sikhs in government jobs and seats in State legislature.50 Most recent media reports regarding the situation of Sikhs in Haryana have been concerned with the current debate as to whether Haryana should have a separate Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (apex religious body of Sikhs) to manage the affairs of Sikh shrines in the State.51 On 7 April 2009, The Tribune reported that there were some in-fighting amongst the Sikhs as to which party to vote for.52 Alternatively, on 29 April 2009, The Tribune reported that Rajya Sabha MP and former chairman of the National Minorities Commission Tarlochan Singh claimed that 80% of the Sikh population would vote for the National Democratic Alliance in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.53 In recent reports on India, the ACHR, the United States Department of States and the United Kingdom Home Office have not expressed any concerns about the treatment of Sikhs in Haryana.

Internal relocation The UK Home Office Operational Guidance Note on India dated April 2008 noted the following: The law provides for freedom of movement and the government generally respects this in practice, however, in certain border areas the government requires special permits. Citizens

49 RRT Research & Information 2007, Research Response IND32432, 6 November – Attachment 41. 50 „Haryana Sikhs to decide „future action‟ on March 29‟, 2009, The Hindu, source: Press Trust of India, 13 March http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/13/stories/2009031355980300.htm – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 42. 51 „SGPC seeks PM intervention‟ 2009, The Hindu, source: Press Trust of India, 7 August http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/07/stories/2009080757440500.htm – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 45; „Badal slams Haryana‟s move to set up separate SGPC‟, 2009, The Hindu, source: Press Trust of India, 29 February, http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/23/stories/2009022353430300.htm – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 46; „Ex-chief of minority panel attacks Hooda‟, 2009, The Tribune, 21 February, http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090222/haryana.htm – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 47; Robin, R.S. 2009, „Haryana Sikhs, expressing support to SGPC, appear before Akal Takht‟, Thaindian News, source: Asian News International 28 September, http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/haryana-sikhs-expressing-support-to-sgpc-appear- before-akal-takht_100253381.html – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 48. 52 Lohumi, B.P, 2009, „Meeting of Jhinda faction ends in fiasco‟, The Tribune, 7 April http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090408/haryana.htm#1 – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 43. 53 „Sikhs not getting justice due to fewer numbers‟, 2009, The Tribune, 28 April http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090429/haryana.htm#10 – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 44.

Page 8 are not required to register their faith in India and Sikhs are able to practise their religion without restriction in every state of India. There are no checks on a newcomer to any part of India arriving from another part of India, including if the person is a Punjabi Sikh. Local police forces have neither the resources nor the language abilities to perform background checks on people arriving from other parts of India. There is no system of registration of citizens, and often people have no identity cards, which in any event can be easily forged. Where the applicant‟s fear is of ill treatment/persecution by the central authorities, relocation to a different area of the country to escape this threat is not feasible, though it is feasible where the applicant‟s fear is of local police and the individual is not of interest to the central authorities.54 Advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, dated 13 October 2003, notes as follows with regard to freedom of movement in India: Indian citizens have the freedom to relocate from one area of India to another, with two exceptions: in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian citizens from other states are not allowed to buy property, but can stay in any part of the state without seeking official permission. Indian citizens who are not residents of the particular area are required to obtain a permit to visit some border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, and border areas in the north-eastern states of India. The permits are valid for six months. Indian citizens who have been arrested and released on bail are required to report regularly to local police authorities. In these instances judicial permission is required to relocate to another part of the country.55

8. Information on Labanas in India. The People of India Volume XXXVII Punjab states the following about Labanas in Punjab: Labana was the name given to Banjaras in Punjab...Labanas specialised in the trade of salt….In the rural areas of Punjab, they are a landowning community. Land is individually owned. In addition to cultivation they are employed in various services including army, which is considered prestigious in the community. Now, some of them are engaged in industry…In rural areas, the community is well-represented in the statutory panchayats. They mainly profess Sikh religion. However, some believe in various Hindu deities…Leadership has emerged from among them at the state and national level.56

SikhiWiki.org57 also notes that the Labana in the Punjab are equal to Jats in social standing and are a Landholding caste. As previously noted the Jats are an upper caste group owning the

54 UK Home Office 2008, Operational Guidance Note: India, April, p. 6- Attachment 49. 55 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2003, DFAT Report No. 254 – India: RRT Information Request: IND16042, 13 October – Attachment 50. 56 Singh, K.S. (ed) 2003, People of India Volume XXXVII Punjab, Anthropological Survey of India, Ajay Kumar Jain Manohar Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi, India, pp.300-302 – Attachment 51. 57 „SikhiWIKI is an online open-content encyclomedia, that is, a voluntary association of individuals and groups who are developing a common resource of human knowledge. Its structure allows anyone with an Internet connection and World Wide Web browser to alter the content found here. Therefore, please be advised that nothing found here has necessarily been reviewed by professionals with the expertise necessary to provide you with complete, accurate or reliable information. That‟s not to say that you won‟t find valuable and accurate information at SikhiWIKI, however please be advised that SikhiWIKI cannot guarantee, in any way whatsoever, the validity of the information found here. It may recently have been changed, vandalized or altered by someone whose opinion does not correspond with the state of knowledge in the particular area you are interested in learning about.‟ http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/SikhiWiki:General_disclaimer – Accessed 14 December 2009

Page 9 majority of land in Punjab. It further notes that the Labanas of Punjab and Haryana are mostly Sikhs and speak mainly Punjabi or .58

List of Attachments 1. „Congress repeats 2004 sweep in Haryana (Third Lead)‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 16 May http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/congress-repeats-2004-sweep-in- haryana-third-lead_100193509.html – Accessed 2 December 2009. 2. Election Commission of India 2009, General Elections – 2009 Schedule of Elections, 2 March, p.12 http://eci.nic.in/press/current/pn020309.pdf – Accessed 20 April 2009. 3. „Haryana‟s Lok Sabha battle is for a bigger war‟ 2009, Indo-Asian News Service, 20 April. (FACTIVA) 4. „INLD announces candidates for 2 LS seats‟ 2009, United News of India, 27 March. (FACTIVA) 5. Ahuja, R. 2009, „INLD names candidates for polls‟, The Hindu, 30 March. (FACTIVA) 6. „210 in fray for 10 seats in Haryana‟ 2009, The Hindu, 23 April. (FACTIVA) 7. „Former Lok Dal leader joins Congress‟, 2009 Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 27 July http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/former-lok-dal- leader-joins-congress_100223519.html -Accessed 2 December 2009. 8. „INLD a sinking ship, Haryana Congress strides confidently‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 20 July,http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/inld-a-sinking-ship-haryana- congress-strides-confidently_100220260.html – Accessed 2 December 2009. 9. „BJP breaks up with INLD in Haryana‟ 2009, DNA India, 24 August http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bjp-breaks-up-with-inld-in-haryana_1284733 – Accessed 4 December 2009 10. „BJP snaps ties with INLD in Haryana‟ 2009, Andhranews, 24 August http://www.andhranews.net/India/2009/August/24-snaps-ties-24774.asp – Accessed 2 December 2009. 11. „INLD starts Haryana poll campaign with big rally‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 25 September http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/inld-starts-haryana-poll-campaign-with- big-rally_100252403.html – Accessed 2 December 2009. 12. Election Commission of India 2009, „Assembly Elections Oct 2009 Results: Haryana‟, http://eciresults.nic.in/ – Accessed 8 December 2009. 13. „Polling for Chandigarh seat starts in peaceful manner‟ 2009, PunjabNewsline, 13 May http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/16604/38/ – Accessed 20 May 2009. 14. „Peaceful polling, 55% turnout in Faridabad‟ 2009, Hindustan Times, 8 May http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=83218f89-0a26-4ac1- bf0a-864467d8197b – Accessed 20 May 2009.

58 „Labana‟(undated) http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Labana – Accessed 10 December 2009 – Attachment 52.

Page 10 15. „Haryana, Punjab register nearly 65 percent voting (Round up)‟ 2009, Thaindian News, source: IndoAsian News Service, 7 May http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/haryana-punjab-register-nearly-65- percent-voting-round-up_100189673.html – Accessed 2 December 2009. 16. „69 per cent cast vote in Haryana‟ 2009, 4jat.com, 13 October http://www.4jat.com/jat_community_article.asp?jat_community=1454&category=Ne ws&keyword=INLD – Accessed 2 December 2009. 17. „Haryana poll: Turnout 68%, violence leaves one dead‟ 2009, DNA India, 13 October http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.asp?n=1298660 – Accessed 4 December 2009. 18. „70% turnout, clash leaves Polling agent Dead in Guhla‟ 2009, Hindustan Times, 14 October http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/haryana/70-turnout-clash-leaves- Polling-agent-Dead-in-Guhla/Article1-464980.aspx – Accessed 4 December 2009. 19. „Office Bearers‟ (undated), Indian National Lok Dal website http://inld.in/office.html – Accessed 10 December 2009. 20. „INLD releases first list of candidates for Haryana poll‟ 2009, Andhra News, 4 September http://www.andhranews.net/India/2009/September/4-INLD-releases-first- list-26632.asp – Accessed 2 December 2009. 21. „Haryana Assembly Election Results 2009‟ 2009, thisismyindia.com http://www.thisismyindia.com/election/haryana-elections.html#2009 – Accessed 2 December 2009. 22. RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response IND34729, 29 April 23. Human Rights Watch 2009, Broken System: Dysfunction, Abuse and Impunity in the Indian Police, August, p.36, http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/india0809web.pdf – Accessed 7 December 2009. 24. Asian Centre for Human Rights 2009, Human Rights Report 2009 - India, pg 70, http://www.achrweb.org/reports/india/AR09/AR2009.pdf – Accessed 7 December 2009. 25. „Welcome‟ (undated), Indian National Lok Dal website http://inld.in/index1.html – Accessed 2 December 2009. 26. „Indian National Lok Dak Chronology‟ (undated), Indian National Lok Dal website http://inld.in/about.html – Accessed 2 December 2009. 27. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (undated) „Census Data 2001, India at a Glance, Religious Composition‟ http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/India_at_glance/religion.aspx – Accessed 9 December 2009. 28. US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – India, October – Accessed 7 December 2009. 29. Sing, G. 2006, „Sikhism Indianized‟, Understanding Sikhism: The Research Journal, January – June 2006, vol. 8, no.1, p.7 http://www.iuscanada.com/journal/archives/2006/journ0801.html – Accessed 11 December 2009. 30. „Sikh‟ (undated) Wikipedia website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikh – Accessed 10 December 2009.

Page 11 31. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (undated), „Census Data 2001, Census and You, Religion‟ http://censusindia.gov.in/Census_And_You/religion.aspx – Accessed 9 December 2009. 32. „Punjab‟ (undated) The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia website, http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Punjab – Accessed 10 December 2009. 33. Machhan, R, 2004, „Punjab second richest state in country: CII‟, The Times of India, 8 April http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/605728.cms – Accessed 9 December.

34. Saldi, R. 2009, „Caste System amongst Sikhs in Punjab‟, Asian Tribune, 6 June http://www.asiantribune.com/node/18221 – Accessed 10 December 2009.

35. Mahaprashasta, A.A. 2009, „Promised Land‟, Frontline, vol.26, issue 14, July 4-17 (http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2614/stories/20090717261403300.htm – Accessed 11 December 2009.

36. ENSAAF 2005, „Punjab Police: Fabricating terrorism through illegal detention and torture July 2005 to August 2005‟, October, p. 5 http://www.ensaaf.org/publications/reports/fabricatingterrorism/ – Accessed 10 December 2009. 37. South Asia Terrorism Portal (undated), „Punjab Assessment Year 2010‟, http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/index.html – Accessed 10 December 2009. 38. Biswas, S. 2005, „The fading of Sikh militancy‟, 16 March, BBC News http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/index.html – Accessed 10 December 2009. 39. „Fifth phase: state-wide polling result‟, 2009, Rediff, 13 May http://election.rediff.com/report/2009/may/13/loksabhapoll-fifth-phase-state-wise- polling-report.htm – Accessed 11 December 2009. 40. „Over 66 pc turn out in Punjab; polling peaceful‟ 2009, IndianExpress, 13 May http://www.indianexpress.com/news/over-66-pc-turn-out-in-punjab-polling- peace/458704/ – Accessed 11 December 2009. 41. RRT Research & Information 2007, Research Response IND32432, 6 November. 42. „Haryana Sikhs to decide „future action‟ on March 29‟ 2009, The Hindu, source: Press Trust of India, 13 March http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/13/stories/2009031355980300.htm – Accessed 10 December 2009. 43. Lohumi, B.P, 2009, „Meeting of Jhinda faction ends in fiasco‟ The Tribune, 7 April http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090408/haryana.htm#1 – Accessed 10 December 2009. 44. „Sikhs not getting justice due to fewer numbers‟ 2009, The Tribune, 28 April http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090429/haryana.htm#10 – Accessed 10 December 2009. 45. „SGPC seeks PM intervention‟ 2009, The Hindu, source: Press Trust of India, 7 August http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/07/stories/2009080757440500.htm – Accessed 10 December 2009.

Page 12 46. „Badal slams Haryana‟s move to set up separate SGPC‟ 2009, The Hindu, source: Press Trust of India, 29 February http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/23/stories/2009022353430300.htm – Accessed 10 December 2009. 47. „Ex-chief of minority panel attacks Hooda‟ 2009, The Tribune, 21 February http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090222/haryana.htm – Accessed 10 December 2009. 48. Robin, R.S. 2009, „Haryana Sikhs, expressing support to SGPC, appear before Akal Takht‟ Thaindian News, source: Asian News International 28 September http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/haryana-sikhs-expressing-support- to-sgpc-appear-before-akal-takht_100253381.html – Accessed 10 December 2009. 49. UK Home Office 2008, Operational Guidance Note: India, April, p. 6. 50. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2003, DFAT Report No. 254 – India: RRT Information Request: IND16042, 13 October. 51. Singh, K.S. (ed), 2003, People of India Volume XXXVII Punjab, Anthropological Survey of India, Ajay Kumar Jain Manohar Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi, India, pp. 300-302 (RRT Library) 52. „Labana‟ (undated) http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Labana – Accessed 10 December 2009. 53. Arora, K. (undated) „Haryana‟, Zee News http://www.zeenews.com/election09/state.aspx?sid=12&Isid=751&Nid=786 – Accessed 10 December 2009.

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