Political parties asked to set up human rights cells

The National Human Rights Commission has asked all political parties to set up human rights cells at central, state and district levels.

These cells are meant to keep tabs on cases of atrocity and torture and monitor the conduct of the party cadres.

The NHRC has requested major parties like the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal, the Left parties and some regional parties like the Akali Dal and Asom Gana Parishad to designate a senior leader to inform it about human rights violations.

The commission reports that most cases of human rights violations come from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Assam.

Among parties, the worst human rights records in 1996 were shared by the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, and the Communist parties in Kerala.

NHRC sources said an eye was being kept on political parties following home ministry reports that criminalisation of politics has resulted in gross human rights violations across the country. Home Minister Indrajit Gupta is particularly insistent that the NHRC "teach politicians human rights lessons".

Commission chairperson Justice M N Venkatachaliah is expected to convene a meeting with leaders of all major political parties shortly to know how each party proposes to set up human rights cells.

Home Secretary K Padmanabhiah will also discuss the rising cases of human rights violations in the country on the occasion.