Plea on 'genocide' of Hindus, Sikhs in J-K: SC asks NGO to make representation to govt
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday asked an NGO that raised the issue of the alleged genocide of Hindus and Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir during 1989-2003 to make a representation before the Centre and the appropriate authority.
In its plea, the NGO We the Citizens sought the constitution of a Special Investigation Team to identify the perpetrators who were involved, aided and abetted the alleged genocide.
The plea was heard by a bench of Justices B R Gavai and C T Ravikumar.
The petitioner's counsel argued before the apex court that the genocide and exodus of over one lakh Sikhs and Hindus from the Kashmir Valley during that period had never been noticed by the state administration at that time.
"Have you made a representation to the government?" the bench asked.
The counsel said they have not.
"You withdraw it and make a representation," the court said.
The top court, which disposed of the petition, allowed the petitioner to withdraw the plea with the liberty to make a representation to the government and the appropriate authority.
At the outset, the bench said, "It is purely in the domain of the executive. You approach the government."
The counsel referred to Article 370 of the Constitution, which was abrogated by the Centre in August 2019, and also Article 35-A.
While the provisions of Article 370 granted special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 35-A provided special rights and privileges to natives of the erstwhile state.
The petitioner's lawyer also referred to a book and said it gives an account of how the state administration had failed in taking care of Hindus and Sikhs during that period.
The plea sought directions to conduct a census of Hindus and Sikhs, who have been victims or survivors of "genocide" in Jammu and Kashmir and are now residing in different parts of India, and also for the rehabilitation of those who had migrated after the exodus in 1990.
It said, "The dastardly genocide and exodus of Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs which happened in 1989-90 in the Kashmir valley is a glaring example of complete failure of constitutional machinery in preventing the genocide and protecting the life, property of the Kashmiri Hindu and Sikh in the Kashmir valley".
The plea referred to books such as "My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir", authored by Jagmohan who was Jammu and Kashmir governor during the relevant period, and "Our Moon Has Blood Clots" by Rahul Pandita.
"These books describe the first-hand account of incident of murder, arson and migration of Hindus and Sikhs from Kashmir," the plea said.
"Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) and Sikhs have always been in the forefront of the struggle against secessionism, communalism and fundamentalism in Kashmir. The final exodus of Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs began from the Kashmir valley in 1989. This was a genocide of the highest order with the intent to ethnically cleanse the Kashmir valley from Hindus and Sikhs," it said.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
