NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday slammed certain vested interests and organisations that make a hue and cry over violation of human rights of terrorists and militant groups, saying that undue importance is being given to such ‘so-called champions’ of human rights.
“I get worried when some people raise the issue of human rights of terrorists and extremists when security forces resort to self defence action. These people consider the acts of terrorists and extremists and their human rights more important than that of security forces. In India, we have a healthy democracy, where there is a healthy democracy, how can we allow people place their demand with guns in their hands,” Home Minister Singh said at a conference of the National Human Rights Commission.
He also came out strongly in support of the acts of self-defence by security forces maintaining law and order in hostile environment. While referring to the civil society and rights activists protest against the hanging of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon, Singh said Memon was convicted by the highest court of the country, yet people tried to raise the issue of human rights.
Singh said how somebody can claim violation of one’s rights and civil liberties when they had trampled upon the rights of others.
The Home Minister pointed out that even before the UN Charter on Human Rights came into existence Indian culture was aware of not only human rights, but also animal rights.
However, he raised concern over the inadequacies in the system and judicial delays resulting in under trials remaining behind bars much beyond the tenure of the maximum sentence for their crime. He, however, noted that directions had been issued to the State governments to release prisoners languishing in jails longer than the actual term.