No information on the treatment of members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) party by the Congress Party since the elections in Punjab could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following information on the situation of members of this party may be of some interest.

In February 2002 (PTI 16 Apr. 2004; Deccan Herald 22 June 2003; Rulers Feb. 2002), Amarinder Singh led the Congress Party to victory in the Punjab state elections, taking 64 of 117 seats (ibid.). With approximately 40 seats (Deccan Herald 22 June 2003; Rulers Feb. 2002), Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), or SAD (Badal), became the main opposition party (Tribune 11 Dec. 2003).

Hindustan Times reported that clashes broke out between SAD (Badal) and Congress Party militants at a polling booth in the Patiala Lok Sobha constituency during the May 2004 elections in India (10 May 2004b). Although this source did not describe the circumstances leading up to the clashes, it did note that at least 10 people were injured as a result (Hindustan Times 10 May 2004b).

A 16 April 2004 article published by the Press Trust of India indicated that a local court issued a summons for May 22 to Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab and leader of the Congress Party, for having launched "a slanderous advertisement campaign through the media to defame the Akali leader [Sukbbir Singh Badal, the SAD (Badal)'s General Secretary] and his family." No information on the court's decision in this case could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. The 8 April 2004 edition of the Hindustan Times, however, indicated that both political rivals had launched smear campaigns through the media.

A 2 December 2003 article in the Hindustan Times reported that a Ropar court had ordered that Parkash Singh Badal, President of the SAD (Badal), and his son, Sukhbir, be taken into custody at the central jail in Patiala until December 13 in a disproportionate assets case. An 11 December 2003 article in The Tribune indicated that Parkash Singh Badal had been released, but it did not provide any details.

Sources indicated that the SAD (Badal) President and members of his family had been investigated by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on charges of corruption and illicit profit (Hindustan Times 10 May 2004a; ibid. 10 Oct. 2003; Indian Express 9 Oct. 2003; Times of India 2 Nov. 2003). The VB "had filed a chargesheet alleging that Parkash Singh Badal, his wife Surinder Kaur Badal and son Sukhbir Singh Badal had amassed assets vastly disproportionate to their known sources of income when [the SAD (Badal) party] was in power" (Hindustan Times 10 May 2004a). However, the Badal family "dismissed the allegation calling it an absurd political vendetta" by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Amarinder Singh (ibid.).

According to two articles, police arrested a number of SAD (Badal) members and employees to prevent them from going to Ropar, where their leader was scheduled to appear (Hindustan Times 1 Dec. 2003a; ibid. 1 Dec. 2003b). In addition, a 10 November 2002 article in Times of India indicated that police had arrested several SAD (Badal) workers before the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) elections on 12 November 2002, and that "senior party leaders . . . [had] gone underground for fear of being arrested."

Toward the end of November 2002, however, Parkash Singh Badal and other senior leaders of the party entered the office of Deputy Commissioner Usha R. Sharma and demanded that they be arrested in protest of the Congress government's policy to fill the jails (The Hindu 28 Nov. 2002; The Tribune 27 Nov. 2007). Hundreds of SAD (Badal) members and employees copied their actions in other Punjab regions, appearing at various police stations and insisting that they be arrested (ibid.). The SAD leader and his colleagues were released later that same day (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Deccan Herald. 23 June 2003. "Making Friends of Foes." http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jun22/sl5.asp [Accessed 8 June 2004]

The Hindu. 28 November 2002. "Badal Court Arrest." http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/11/28/stories/2002112806800102.htm [Accessed 8 June 2004]

Hindustan Times [New Delhi]. 10 May 2004a. "Sukhbir Singh Badal." http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/6996_690887,001600560000.htm [Accessed 3 June 2004]

_____. 10 May 2004b. "Akali Dal Leader Shot Dead in Ludhiana District." http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/6996_744837,0016005500000002.htm [Accessed 3 June 2004]

_____. 8 April 2004. "Below-the-Belt Campaigning in Punjab." (Dialog)

_____. 2 December 2003. Gurpreet Singh Nibber. "Badal, Son Lodged in Patiala Central Jail." http://www.hindustantimes.com/2003/Dec/02/5922_479481,0015002000000001.htm [Accessed 8 June 2004]

_____. 1 December 2003a. "1,150 Held on Eve of Badal's Appearance." http://www.hindustantimes.com/2003/Dec/01/5922_478075,0015002000000003.htm [Accessed 8 June 2004]

_____. 1 December 2003b. "Hundreds of SAD, BJB Workers Arrested in Doaba." http://www.hindustantimes.com/2003/Dec/01/5922_478077,0015002000000003.htm [Accessed 8 June 2004]

_____. 10 October 2003. "VB Quizzes Sukhbir for More Than Four Hours." http://www.hindustantimes.com/2003/Oct/10/5922_410651,0015002000000057.htm [Accessed 7 June 2004]

Indian Express. 9 October 2003. "CM Knows Badal Secret, VB Finds What They Needed." (Dialog/Financial Times Information)

Press Trust of India (PTI). 16 April 2004. "Court Issues Summons to Amarinder Singh in a Defamation Case." (Dialog)

Rulers. February 2002. "India." http://www.rulers.org/2002-02.html [Accessed 8 June 2004]

The Times of India. 2 November 2003. Surender Awasthi. "Vigilance Bureau Raids Badal's House Again." http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/263311.cms [Accessed 7 June 2004]

_____. 10 November 2002. "Fearing Arrest, SAD Leaders Disappear." http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/27803236.cms [Accessed 8 June 2004]

The Tribune [Chandigarh]. 11 December 2003. Sarbjit Dhaliwal. "Cong Crisis to Dominate SAD Meeting Today." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031212/punjab1.htm#3 [Accessed 15 Dec. 2003]

_____. 27 November 2002. "Badal Courts Arrest, Let Off." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021128/main1.htm [Accessed 3 June 2004]

Publications: Indian Abroad, Resource Centre country file.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International, Dialog, Indian Express, India Info.com, HRW, Punjab News, Tribune Online, South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre.