Vietnam war veteran US officer seeks asylum in India

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to examine the plea by a 72-year old ex-US Navy officer, who had fought in the Vietnam war between 1964-1967, for political asylum in India as he fears persecution in the USA.

A bench of Justices P Sathasivam and H L Dattu, forwarded the petition filed by the self-confessed "Gandhian" to the Attorney General G E Vahanvati for his consideration and report back to the court.

Appearing in person, Knaebel pleaded he should be granted political asylum in India as he fears persecution if he goes back to the US.

Knaebel had on June 19, 2009, created ripples by destroying his passport at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and condemned the "imperialistic" policies of the US government.

According to Knaebel, his act of destroying the passport would be considered as an act of "treason and sedition" by the US government which would prosecute him and hence sought asylum in India.

Though an American national, Knaebel has been in India since 1995 on an extended visa crisscrossing the country and spreading the message of Mahatma Gandhi.

Knaebel said he was deeply influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Gautama Buddha, Ramakrishna Paramhamsa and Swami Vivekanada.

"Only India must provide the moral leadership to the entire world riven with strife, violence and war," he said.