Punjab BJP leader seeks setting up of body to establish truth about violence from 1980-2000

Chandigarh, Jul 7 (PTI) BJP leader Jagmohan Raju has sought the setting up of a Punjab Truth, Accountability and Reconciliation Commission whose mandate would include "an impartial and authoritative account of the events relating to the state's period of militancy and violence between 1980-2000". Several political parties and Sikh bodies in Punjab have slammed the removal of Diljit Dosanjh's film "Satluj" from an OTT platform, saying the movie compels India to confront one of the state's "darkest chapters" and that history must be confronted with honesty, not buried through censorship. Raju, who is also a retired IAS officer, wrote a letter to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday. In his letter, he wrote, "The release and subsequent sudden withdrawal of the Punjabi film Satluj has revived a public debate across Punjab about whether the complete truth relating to one of the most painful chapters of our State's history between 1980 and 2000 has been credibly established. Even after four decades, Punjab continues to remain divided by competing narratives, with different sections of society nurturing significantly different understandings of the same events". Raju wrote that Punjab cannot build a peaceful and harmonious future upon disputed memories. It is high time that a sincere effort is made to establish the truth through a fair, independent and credible process; fix political accountability and facilitate reconciliation, he said in his letter. "I, therefore, respectfully request Your Excellency to consider using your good offices to encourage the Government of Punjab to establish a Punjab Truth, Accountability and Reconciliation Commission with the following broad mandate", to establish, as far as possible, an impartial and authoritative account of the events relating to Punjab's period of militancy and violence between 1980-2000, Raju wrote. He further said in his letter that the commission is needed to provide an opportunity to victims, their families and other stakeholders to place their experiences and evidence pertaining to this period on record; to recommend appropriate compensation, rehabilitation and other suitable relief for all victims and their families, including victims of terrorism, victims of human rights violations and other affected persons during the period; and to fix political accountability and recommend institutional, legal and administrative reforms to strengthen constitutional governance, protection of human rights and the rule of law. Raju further wrote that the mandate should also include recommending measures for reconciliation so that future generations inherit a more united and confident Punjab. "Punjab cannot rewrite its past. It can, however, understand it honestly, learn from it and move forward with reconciliation and hope," he added. Directed by Honey Trehan, "Satluj" delves into the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab during a 10-year period from 1984 to 1994. He disappeared in 1995. In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted for his abduction and murder and sentenced to seven years in prison. Two years later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court enhanced their sentence to life imprisonment. PTI SUN KSS KSS