[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INDIAN GOVERNMENT CAUGHT RED-HANDED TRYING TO BURN DOWN SIKH HOMES, 
                          GURDWARA IN KASHMIR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2001

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, in March 2000 when President Clinton was 
visiting India, 35 Sikhs were murdered in cold blood in the village of 
Chithi Singhpora in Kashmir. Although the Indian government continues 
to blame alleged ``Pakistani militants,'' two independent 
investigations have proven that the Indian government was responsible 
for this atrocity.
  Now it is clear that this was part of a pattern designed to pit Sikhs 
and Kashmiri Muslims against each other with the ultimate aim of 
destroying both the Sikh and Kashmiri freedom movements. The Kashmir 
Media Service reported on May 28 that five Indian soldiers were caught 
red-handed in Srinagar trying to set fire to a Gurdwara (a Sikh temple) 
and some Sikh homes. The troops were overpowered by Sikh and Muslim 
villagers as they were about to sprinkle gunpowder on Sikh houses and 
the Gurdwara. Several other troops were rescued by the Border Security 
Forces. The villagers even seized a military vehicle, which the army 
later had to come and reclaim.
  At a subsequent protest rally, local leaders said that this incident 
was part of an Indian government plan to create communal riots. As 
such, it fits perfectly with the Chithi Singhpora massacre.
  Mr. Speaker, India has been caught red-handed trying to commit an 
atrocity to generate violence by minorities against each other. Now 
that the massive numbers of minorities the Indian government has 
murdered have been exposed, it is trying to get the minorities to kill 
each other. Instead they are banding together to stop the government's 
sinister plan. The plan to create more bloodshed is backfiring on the 
Indian government.
  Such a plan is a tyrannical, unacceptable abuse of power. As the 
superpower in the world and the leader of the forces of freedom, we 
must take a stand against this tyrannical, terrorist activity. First, 
President Bush should reconsider the idea of lifting the sanctions 
against India. Those sanctions should remain in place until the Indian 
government learns to respect basic human rights. Until then, the United 
States should provide no aid to India. And to ensure the survival and 
success of freedom in South Asia, we should go on record strongly 
supporting self-determination for all the peoples and nations of South 
Asia in the form of a free and fair, internationally-monitored 
plebiscite on the issue of independence for Khalistan, Kashmir, 
Nagalim, and all the nations seeking their freedom. This is the best 
way to let freedom reign in all of South Asia and to create strong 
allies for America in that troubled region.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the May 28 Kashmir News Service 
article on the Indian forces trying to burn the Gurdwara into the 
Record at this time for the information of my colleagues, especially 
those who defended India at the time of the Chithi Singhpora massacre.

             [From the Kashmir Media Service, May 28, 2001]

            Attempt to Set Ablaze Sikh Houses in IHK Foiled

       Srinagar--Evil forces behind incidents like collective 
     murder of Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora were publicly exposed 
     when the people frustrated the Task Forces' designs to set 
     ablaze Sikh houses and Gurdwara in Srinagar late Saturday 
     night.
       According to Kashmir Media Service, Muslims and Sikhs came 
     out of their houses in full force and over powered five of 
     the Indian troops who were about to sprinkle gun powder on 
     Sikhs' houses and adjoining Gurdwara in Alucha Bagh locality 
     with an intention to set them on fire.
       The people also seized a military vehicle, the Task Force 
     personnel were riding in. Twelve troops, however, succeeded 
     to escape. Later, the Border Security Force personnel rescued 
     the Task Force personnel. However, the captured vehicle was 
     retained by the people from which, petrol, hand grenades and 
     hundreds of tear gas shells were recovered.
       Former APHC Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani led an APHC 
     delegation, including Qazi Ahadullah and Abdul Khaliq Hanif, 
     to the site of the incident. A protest procession was taken 
     out in the locality. The protestors were addressed by Syed 
     Ali Gilani, Ranjiet Singh Sodi, Sardar Bali, Qazi Ahadullah 
     and Abdul Khaliq Hanif.
       Syed Ali Gilani recalled the collective murder of Sikhs in 
     Chatti Singhpora and said, now that India has invited 
     Pakistan's Chief Executive General Musharraf for talks, this 
     sinister plan had been hatched to vitiate the atmosphere by 
     creating communal riots.

     

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