[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 139 (Thursday, October 14, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2107]]
          SENATE SHOULD PASS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PROTECTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 14, 1999

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, recently, this House passed H.R. 1691, the 
Religious Liberty Protection Act. The bill is currently in committee in 
the Senate and I would like to take this opportunity to urge our 
colleagues in the other house to pass this bill as soon as possible.
  America is a secular democracy, a country where the religious rights 
of every citizen are protected by the Constitution. In many other 
countries, including some that call themselves secular and democratic, 
people do not enjoy these freedoms. We must do whatever we can to 
protect religious freedom for every American.
  The Sikh religion requires Sikhs to have five symbols known as the 
``five Ks.'' The five Ks are unshorn hair (Kes), a comb (Kanga), a 
bracelet (Kara), a kind of shorts (Kachha), and a ceremonial sword 
(Kirpan). These are required by the religion.
  In a recent incident in Mentor, Ohio, outside Cleveland, a 69-year-
old Sikh named Gurbachan Singh Bhatia was involved in a minor traffic 
accident. When the police arrived at the scene, a policeman saw Mr. 
Bhatia's kirpan (ceremonial sword). He was arrested for carrying a 
concealed weapon. The case is scheduled to be heard in December. In a 
case in Cincinnati involving similar circumstances, the judge, the 
Honorable Mark Painter wrote, ``To be a Sikh is to wear a kirpan--it is 
that simple. It is a religious symbol and in no way a weapon.''
  Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, has 
been working to get the Religious Liberty Protection Act to protect the 
rights of Mr. Bhatia and all religious people of all faiths in America. 
No person should be harassed for his religious faith. He has written to 
Senator Hatch, who chairs the Judiciary Committee over there, and all 
members of the committee in support of this bill.
  I call on the local authorities in Mentor to drop all charges against 
Mr. Bhatia and I also call on my colleagues over in the Senate to pass 
H.R. 1691, the Religious Liberty Protection Act.
  I submit Dr. Aulakh's letter to Senator Hatch into the Record for the 
information of my colleagues.

                                         Council of Khalistan,

                                  Washington, DC, October 7, 1999.
     Hon. Orrin Hatch,
     Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, Washington, DC.

Subject: Request to Expedite Passage of H.R. 1691 to Protect Religious 
                                Freedom

       Dear Senator Hatch: On behalf of over 500,000 Sikhs, I am 
     writing to you in support of H.R. 1691, the Religious Liberty 
     Protection Act.
       The Council of Khalistan represents the interests of the 
     Sikh Nation in this country and worldwide. It was constituted 
     by the Panthic Committee to represent the Sikh struggle for 
     freedom. We have worked for the last 12 years in pursuit of 
     this objective.
       It is vitally important that the Religious Liberty 
     Protection Act be reported out of committee and passed as 
     soon as possible.
       Charan Singh Kalsi of New Jersey was fired by the New York 
     Transit Authority. The Transit Authority tried to force him 
     to wear a hard hat instead of his turban, which he is 
     required to wear as a symbol of his Sikh religion.
       When a Sikh is baptized, he or she is required to have five 
     symbols called the five Ks. They are unshorn hair (Kes), a 
     comb (Kanga), a bracelet (Kara), a kind of shorts (Kachha), 
     and a ceremonial sword (Kirpan). These are required by the 
     religion.
       Recently in Mentor, Ohio, Gurbachan Singh Bhatia, a 69-
     year-old Sikh, was involved in a minor traffic accident. The 
     police were called to the scene of the accident. When the 
     policeman saw Mr. Bhatia's kirpan (ceremonial sword), he was 
     arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. He is currently 
     scheduled to go to trial in December. In a similar case in 
     Cincinnati, Judge Mark Painter wrote, ``To be a Sikh is to 
     wear a kirpan--it is that simple. It is a religious symbol 
     and in no way a weapon.''
       Mr. Bhatia and Mr. Kalsi are exercising their freedom of 
     religion. The U.S. Constitution guarantees religious freedom 
     to everyone. The Religious Liberty Protection Act will 
     protect individuals like Gurbachan Singh Bhatia and Charan 
     Singh Kalsi from being prosecuted and denied jobs for 
     exercising their religious freedom. That is why this bill is 
     so important.
       On behalf of the Sikhs in America, I urge you to report the 
     Religious Liberty Protection Act out so that it can be passed 
     and become law as soon as possible.
           Sincerely,

                                      Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

                                  President, Council of Khalistan.

     

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