[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E820-E821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                INDIAN NUCLEAR TEST IS A THREAT TO PEACE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 1998

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I was very distressed to hear of the recent 
Indian nuclear test. This test moves the subcontinent closer than it 
has ever been to a devastating nuclear war and threatens the peace of 
South Asia and the world.
  Recently, the Rand Corporation, a widely-respected think tank, 
predicted a war between India and Pakistan. The Rand study predicted 
that this war could go nuclear. Unfortunately, this explosion in the 
Rajasthan desert brings that prediction dangerously close to 
materializing.
  No one can be sanguine in the face of such a grave threat, especially 
since India refuses to join the other nuclear states of the world in 
accepting the restraints of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). 
Pakistan has said that it will sign the treaty when India does; it is 
the Indian government that refuses to let South Asia escape from the 
threat of nuclear war.
  It appears that even many supporters of India are worried about this 
dangerous test. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a 
pro-India think tank, reportedly said that this test would backfire on 
India. I am encouraged that a prominent organization that supports 
India has spoken out about the danger this test poses.
  America provides significant support for this nuclear campaign. India 
is one of the five largest recipients of aid from the hardworking 
taxpayers of the United States. We should end this aid immediately and 
impose tough sanctions on India to put the brakes on its aggressive 
nuclear effort. This will put pressure on

[[Page E821]]

India to focus its resources on development at home, where half the 
people live below the international poverty line, instead of trying to 
intimidate its neighbors to extend its empire.
  The Council of Khalistan recently issued a press release on this 
issue which speaks strongly and responsibly about measures America can 
take to make it clear to India that we will not allow it to turn the 
subcontinent into a theater of nuclear combat. I support the measures 
outlined in this release and I would like to place this release in the 
Record.

   Sanction India for Nuclear weapons Test--President Clinton Should 
                         Cancel Visit to India

       Washington, D.C., May 11--Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, 
     President of the Council of Khalistan, today strongly 
     condemned India for its test of three nuclear devices and 
     called on the Administration and Congress to impose sanctions 
     on India for that test. He also urged President Clinton to 
     cancel his scheduled visit to India.
       ``India has been pursuing nuclear domination in South Asia 
     for quite a while,'' Dr. Aulakh said, ``even though it is 
     under no military threat.'' According to a British 
     documentary entitled ``Nuclear India,'' India uses only 2 
     percent of its development budget on health and 2 percent on 
     education, but 25 percent of its development budget goes to 
     nuclear development. India is one of the five largest 
     recipients of U.S. aid. ``It is time for the U.S. government 
     to place sanctions on this imperialist state,'' he said.
       India has refused to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty 
     (CTBT), Dr. Aulakh pointed out. ``Without India's agreement 
     to this treaty, how do we know that India won't spread its 
     nuclear-weapons technology around to hostile countries like 
     Iran?,'' he asked. India has provided heavy water and nuclear 
     submarines to the Iranian regime, according to newspaper 
     reports.
       ``This nuclear test poses a serious danger to the world,'' 
     Dr. Aulakh said. ``India has ballistic missiles currently 
     aimed at Pakistan and it shows signs of a country preparing 
     for a military attack,'' he added. ``India can no longer deny 
     its ambition to achieve hegemony in the subcontinent, backed 
     by nuclear weapons,'' he said. He pointed out that two 
     leaders of the ruling BJD recently called for Pakistan and 
     Bangladesh to become part of India. ``I view this nuclear 
     test as an effort to scare India's neighbors into submission 
     to its dreams of hegemony,'' he said.
       ``Sanctions against South Africa led to the end of 
     apartheid,'' he said. ``Sanctions against India will bring 
     about an end to its aggressive nuclear weapons development.''
       Dr. Aulakh called on President Clinton to cancel his visit 
     to India. ``Why should the President of the United States 
     grant his symbolic blessing to this aggressive action against 
     all the countries of South Asia?,'' he asked. ``We all want 
     to have good relations with India, but it must pay the price 
     for its destabilizing test,'' he said. ``By cancelling this 
     visit, the President can make it clear that America will not 
     support Indian military aggression or Indian hegemony in the 
     subcontinent.''
       ``The best way to keep India from using its military 
     resources to achieve dominance in South Asia to support 
     Punjab, Khalistan and all of the subcontinent in their 
     struggle for freedom.,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``Punjab, Khalistan 
     is a natural buffer between India and Pakistan. Sikhs are 
     committed to make Punjab a nuclear-free zone now and in the 
     future. We will not and cannot tolerate nuclear weapons in 
     our homeland and the Sikh Nation will do all in its power to 
     make all of South Asia nuclear-free.''

     

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