[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SENATE RESOLUTION 102--RELATIVE TO INDIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

  Mr. SPECTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 102

       Whereas India is the world's largest democracy and shares 
     with the United States the system in which the supreme power 
     to govern is invested in the people;
       Whereas the people of India drew upon the values of the 
     rule of law in creating a representative democracy;
       Whereas India and the United States share a common bond of 
     being former British colonies;
       Whereas India's independence was achieved pledged to the 
     principles of fairness, dignity, peace and democracy;
       Whereas these and other ideals have forged a close bond 
     between our two nations and their peoples;
       Whereas August 15, 1997 marks the 50th anniversary of the 
     end of the struggle which freed the Indian people from 
     British colonial rule; and
       Whereas it is proper and desirable to celebrate with the 
     Indian people, and to reaffirm the democratic principles on 
     which our two great nations were born: Now therefore be it
       Resolved, That August 15, 1997 is designated as Indian 
     Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Indian and 
     American Democracy. The President is requested to issue a 
     proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
     observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I am submitting this resolution 
commemorating the 50th anniversary of India's independence. This 
resolution will designate August 15, 1997, as ``Independence Day for 
the Nation of India,'' a day of celebration of Indian and American 
democracy.
  On August 15, 1947, India came into existence and has been dedicated 
to democracy and the rule of law for the past 50 years. It is a 
multiethnic country of 950 million people, who speak more than 18 major 
languages and hundreds of dialects.
  I have had the pleasure to visit India on a number of occasions, most 
recently with the distinguished Senator from Colorado, Senator Brown, 
in August 1995, when we met with Prime Minister Rao. That was a 
fascinating meeting when the Prime Minister immediately undertook a 
discussion of the necessity to have the subcontinent nuclear free. 
Regrettably, there has been much controversy, much tension between 
Pakistan and India. On that occasion, Prime Minister Rao emphasized his 
desire to see the subcontinent nuclear free.
  The next day, Senator Brown and I had occasion to visit with Prime 
Minister Benazir Bhutto in Islamabad and talk to her about establishing 
a nuclear free subcontinent.
  Later, Senator Brown and I wrote jointly to President Clinton urging 
that the President invite the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan to 
the White House to see if a nuclear free subcontinent might be 
accomplished with the assistance of the good offices of the United 
States.
  I am delighted to see my distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania, 
Senator Santorum, assuming the Chair, the lofty position of presiding 
over the U.S. Senate. I am glad to see my colleague here.
  Back to my resolution. India's democracy has thrived over the past 50 
years, testimony to the fact that principles of freedom are not limited 
to the most prosperous countries of the West, but a country which has 
become independent and democratic, notwithstanding its problems with 
its economy.
  There are strong links between the two nations, India and the United 
States. We are both former British colonies and, in our own civil 
rights struggles of the last generation, great Americans, such as Dr. 
Martin Luther King, borrowed the concepts of peaceful dissent from 
India from the teaching of India's independence leader, Mahatma Gandhi.
  The number of Indian, Americans living in the United States continues 
to increase steadily. The rich cultural heritage and traditions of the 
Indian people contribute to the great diversity of the United States of 
America.
  Relations between our countries have seen some difficulties, and 
there are still areas for improvement, but our mutual values of 
democracy and the rule of law bridge these differences.
  I submit this resolution because it is proper and desirable to 
celebrate with the Indian people and to reaffirm the democratic 
principles which our two great nations cherish. I ask the American 
people to join with me in celebrating 50 years of India's independence.

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