[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E189-E190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       INDIA REPUBLIC DAY: A CELEBRATION OF 45 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY

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                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 26, 1995
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, today, January 26, is a date of enormous 
significance for all the people of India, and for the many sons and 
daughters of India living in the United States and around the world. 
Today marks the celebration of Republic Day, a national holiday that 
holds the same significance for Indians as the Fourth of July does for 
Americans.
  On January 26, 1950, India became a Republic. The country adopted a 
Constitution which enshrined the principles of democracy and 
secularism. At that time, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the 
nation's first President. Since then, despite the challenges of 
sustaining economic development while reconciling her many ethnic, 
religious, and linguistic communities, India has stuck to the path of 
free and fair elections, a multi-party political system and the orderly 
transfer of power from one government to its successor.
  I would like to draw particular attention to the similarities and 
shared values of the United States and India. The framers of the 
Constitution that Indians celebrate today drew on 
[[Page E190]] our own Constitution and its Bill of Rights. Both of our 
countries are former British colonies that gained their freedom after a 
long and difficult struggle. English continues to be an important 
language of commerce in India. Many Americans almost instinctively saw 
in Mahatma Gandhi a reflection of values that our country holds dear. 
During this month when we celebrate the birthday of one of America's 
greatest heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King, we should remember that Dr. 
King derived many of his ideas of nonviolent resistance to injustice 
from the teachings, actions, and self-sacrifice of Gandhi.
  Mr. Speaker, I regret that I have to mention this, but today's 
celebration of Republic Day in India was marred by a bombing at a 
crowded stadium in Jammu, India, where Republic Day celebrations were 
taking place, killing 7 people and injuring 47. Another terrorist 
attack was staged on a parade in Srinigar. These events remind us that 
there are still forces trying to destabilize India--some of them 
receiving support and encouragement from abroad. But it is impressive 
to keep in mind that despite being so severely tested by the forces of 
terrorism, India has preserved its democratic institutions, seeks to 
give opportunities to people from all religious and ethnic backgrounds 
and moves resolutely forward with market-based economic reforms.
  There is, however, good news for us to talk about. United States-
India relations are looking better than they have in a long time. Two 
of the President's Cabinet Secretaries have been in India this month--
Defense Secretary Perry and Commerce Secretary Brown, who was 
accompanied by the top officials from some of our major corporations. 
The two Secretaries' visits to India resulted in significant 
accomplishments on issues relating to security and trade and 
investment. I hope we in Congress will make it a high priority to 
continue this momentum and move it forward. The Congressional Caucus on 
India and Indian-Americans, which I initiated two years ago, is 
reorganizing in the new Congress with strong bipartisan participation. 
We are dedicated to steady improvement in United States-India relations 
and in being a voice for the 1-million-strong Asian-Indian community 
here in America.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me, an elected Representative of the 
oldest continuous democratic republic on earth, to pay tribute to the 
world's most populous democracy on the occasion of their great national 
day.


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