[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                CHIEF MINISTER BEANT SINGH--IN MEMORIAL

                                 ______


                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 13, 1995
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call attention to the brutal 
assassination of Chief Minister Beant Singh of Punjab, India. Sikh 
terrorists assassinated Mr. Singh and 15 of his security officers on 
August 31, 1995.
  This ghastly act of violence was a very sad day for the people of 
Punjab. Mr. Singh worked tirelessly during his 2-year tenure to bring 
the rule of law back to the beleaguered Punjabi province.
  Political figures from across the Indian political spectrum have 
rallied together to condemn this terrorist act. We in the U.S. Congress 
must do the same.
  We are all aware of the reports of the Members who lend credence to 
the so-called Council of Khalistan. It is intolerable for U.S. 
politicians to support Sikh militancy for the sake of domestic 
politics.
  Mr. Singh was not a man of violence. He was, in fact, responsible for 
the decreased level of tension in Punjab over the last few years. A 
great leader and a great statesman, Beant Singh was responsible for 
many social programs designed to ameliorate the quality of life of his 
constituents.
  During his term as Chief Minister, some of India's largest companies 
injected more than 250 billion rupees into Punjab. Mr. Singh's social 
program agenda was no less industrious. He established scholarships for 
needy students, increased benefits for the elderly, and constructed a 
better quality of housing throughout the entire region. Sikhs and 
Hindus alike in Punjab will suffer equally from the assassination of 
this fine man.
  Mr. Singh's loss will set back prospects for peace in Punjab 
considerably. We can only hope that our colleagues will recognize that 
the security problem in Punjab is real. The threat from Sikh militants 
is great, and peace will never be achieved through assassination and 
violence.


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