Socialist Party (India) writes to PM over threat to Justice Sachar

25 January, 2013

Socialist Party of India has lodged its protest before Prime Minister Dr. Manomohan Singh and home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for not officially intimating Justice Rajinder Sachar about the threat he faced from the 'right wing extremists'.

Socialist Party's spokesperson and general secretary Dr. Prem Singh in his letter addressed to the Prime Minister has said that Justice Sachar was very surprised “why he had not been informed about this revelation by the concerned authorities”.

Notably, as per a report by Indian Express, published four days ago, alleged Samjhauta Express train bomber Rajendra Choudhary has claimed that Hindu right-wing extremists planned to target justice Rajinder Sachar in October 2006 as they were not happy with a report to be submitted by a committee headed by Justice Sachar on the socio-economic conditions of Muslims before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2006. In its report the panel had highlighted that the community fared poorly on most parameters.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has asked Delhi Police to tighten the security of Justice Sachar after this disclosure. According to NIA, a recce had also been done in New Delhi to execute the attack on Justice Sachar. However, the plan was dropped due to heightened security in the capital.

Contents of the letter:

A few days ago a newspaper published the shocking news that Rajendra Choudhary, an accused in the Samjhauta Express bomb blast case, has revealed that in October 2006 the right-wing extremists had planned to target Justice Rajinder Sachar. The plan could not be executed because they were on a run after conducting Malegaon blast and lacked resources.

It is condemnable that till date Justice Sachar has not even been informed about this by the concerned authorities. Over a telephonic conversation with him last evening Justice Sachar wondered why neither he nor the other six members of the committee received any official intimation about the threat even after four days the news was flashed.

Justice Sachar Committee was formed by the government in March 2005 to present report on the socio-economic-educational conditions of the Muslim population in India. The report was submitted to the government in November 2006 which created a sharp debate in the political and social circles. The BJP/RSS rejected the findings and suggestions of the report outright and is indulging in continuous propaganda against it. With such an anti-position taken on the report, these forces can harm Justice Sachar and the members of the committee after the report is published.

Justice Sachar is a friend, philosopher and guide to the cadres of the Socialist Party who have utmost concern for his security. Therefore we request you to kindly direct the concerned authorities to provide him adequate security with immediate effect.