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'Communal' Sarkari qatl-e-aam banned

The central and Delhi governments have decided to proscribe the controversial book Sarkari qatl-e-aam, which accused the judiciary of being part of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

In an affidavit filed before a division bench comprising Justices Y K Sabharwal and C K Mahajan, central government standing counsel Meera Bhatia and her Delhi government counterpart Rajesh Kumar submitted that (to prevent further trouble) both the governments have decided to outlaw the book from further publication, distribution and sale.

Based on eyewitness accounts and newspaper reports, Sarkari qatl-e-aam, or government-organised carnage, has been written by Gurucharan Singh Babbar, president of the All India Akali Dal (Babbar).

The book was published in several languages, including English, Hindi and Gurmukhi.

The author said the book was an attempt to remind the people, the socio-political leadership and the intelligentsia about the 'bloodiest chapter' in India's history.

The decision to ban the book came in response to a public interest petition filed by Suresh Kumar Chauhan, who submitted that it would incite communal disturbances.

UNI

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