[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 51 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E589-E590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SALUTE TO THE SIKH NATION

                                 ______


                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 1996

  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate the Sikh Nation on Vaisakhi Day, the anniversary of the 
founding of the Sikh Nation. The 297th birthday of the Sikh Nation 
occurred this past Saturday, April 13. I salute the Sikh Nation on this 
occasion.
  The Sikh religion is a revealed, monotheistic religion which believes 
in the equality of all people, including gender equality. Its 
principles are found in the Guru Granth Sahib, the writings of the 10 
Gurus, founders of the Sikh religion. Vaisakhi Day marks the 
anniversary of the consecration of the Sikh Nation by the tenth and 
final Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. The Sikh Nation has always tried to live 
in peace with its neighbors. The Sikhs suffered disproportionate 
casualties in India's struggle for independence, and Punjab, the Sikh 
homeland, was the last part of the subcontinent to be subdued by the 
British.

[[Page E590]]

  Sikhs ruled Punjab from 1710 to 1716 and again from 1765 to 1849. 
When India achieved its independence, the Sikh Nation was one of the 
three nations that were to receive sovereign power. However, the Sikh 
leaders of the time chose to take their share with India on the promise 
of autonomy and respect for Sikh rights--an arrangement similar to 
America's own association with the people of Puerto Rico. Many of us 
have spoken about Indian violations of the fundamental human rights of 
the Sikhs and others. The abduction and ``disappearance'' of human 
rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra is one prominent example. Despite 
the solemn promises of Gandhi and Nehru, these violations have been 
going on since the Union Jack was taken down for the last time in 1947. 
As a result, no Sikh to this day has ever signed the Indian 
constitution. If the people of New York, California, or Illinois had 
not agreed to the U.S. Constitution, would we consider them part of 
this country?
  When India attacked the Golden Temple, the Vatican or Mecca of the 
Sikh Nation, in 1984, more than 20,000 people were killed. Another 
20,000 were killed in simultaneous attacks on 38 other Sikh temples, or 
Gurdwaras, throughout Punjab, Khalistan.
  The Indian regime also has imposed ``Presidential rule''--that is, 
direct rule from the central government which supersedes the elected 
state government--on Punjab nine times. It is likely that if Punjab, 
Khalistan makes any move toward freedom after the elections, 
Presidential rule will be imposed for a tenth time. This is one more 
way to deny the Sikh Nation the freedom that is its birthright.
  On October 7, 1987, the Sikh Nation declared its independence and the 
sovereign country of Khalistan was born. The Sikh Nation is set 
unalterably on a course to freedom, although this movement is 
nonviolent and democratic. Khalistan will secure its freedom the same 
way that India secured its independence. India cannot keep together an 
empire which has 18 official languages. Many experts predict that India 
will unravel within ten years, if not sooner. It is falling apart in 
front of our eyes, and too many of my colleagues do not even recognize 
it. The collapse of the Soviet empire shows that you cannot keep an 
empire of many nations by force permanently.
  America is a country founded on the idea of freedom. Let us remember 
America's mission: in the words of John F. Kennedy, ``to secure the 
survival and success of liberty.'' We must support freedom around the 
world because we are the land of the free. The American idea requires 
us to support freedom for the Sikhs, the Muslims of Kashmir, the 
Christians of Nagaland, the peoples of Assam and Manipur, and all the 
oppressed peoples of the Indian subcontinent. Two bills are pending 
which address this issue. The first, H.R. 1425, would cut off United 
States development aid to India until basic human rights are respected. 
The second, House Concurrent Resolution 32, calls for self-
determination in Indian-occupied Khalistan. I call upon my colleagues 
to support these bills. They will help to end India's brutal occupation 
of Khalistan and insure that when we congratulate the Sikh Nation on 
its 300th anniversary three years from now, we can offer those 
congratulations to the leaders of a free and sovereign Khalistan.

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