[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 162 (Wednesday, November 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN MEMORY OF NAZAR SINGH FAGOORA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, recently Nazar Singh Fagoora, a Sikh leader 
from Fresno, California, passed away. December 3 would have been his 
86th birthday. I was informed of his passing by Dr. Gurmit Singh 
Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, to whom he was an 
advisor.
  Nazar Singh Fagoora believed deeply in freedom for all people. He 
supported the struggle to free the Sikh homeland, Khalistan, with 
financial contributions and with his political support. In the Fresno 
Gurdwara, he would post letters from the Council of Khalistan on the 
bulletin board to inform his fellow Sikhs of what was going on back in 
Punjab, Khalistan, and to encourage them to get involved in the freedom 
movement.
  Nazar Singh Fagoora was a committed, dedicated Sikh, and a staunch 
Khalistani. He led a simple life. He was active in many efforts to help 
his fellow Sikhs, whether by trying to help people in the local 
community or by his financial, moral, political, and personal support 
of the freedom movement. I know that his family, friends, and the 
members of his Gurdwara will greatly miss him. Let him serve to remind 
us all of what it is to be a good citizen. I know I speak for everyone 
here when I say let God bless him and his family.
  Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan issued a press release in Mr. 
Fagoora's memory. I would like to place that in the Record at this 
time.

          Sikh Nation Mourns Passing of S. Nazar Singh Fagoora


    Fresno Sikh Was Dedicated Servant of Khalsa Panth and All People

       Washington, DC, November 20, 2001.--The Sikh Nation is 
     mourning the loss of Sardar Nazar Singh Fagoora, a dedicated 
     Sikh leader from Fresno, California, who died at the age of 
     85. He was a dedicated servant of the Khalsa Panth, and he 
     will be greatly missed.
       ``Sardar Nazar Singh was a great human being, a committed, 
     dedicated Sikh, and a staunch Khalistani,'' said Dr. Gurmit 
     Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, the 
     organization leading the Sikh Nation's struggle for the 
     independence of the Sikh homeland. Khalistan is the name of 
     the independent Sikh homeland declared on October 7, 1987.
       ``Sardar Nazar Singh gave large amounts of money in support 
     of the struggle to liberate Khalistan. He led a simple 
     fulfilling life, according to the principles laid down by our 
     Gurus,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``He was a true follower of Guru. 
     He was a truly noble and dedicated Sikh,'' Dr. Aulakh said.
       ``Sardar Nazar Singh really served the Guru very well by 
     serving the Khalsa Panth,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``He was active 
     in many ways in efforts to help the Khalsa Panth, whether by 
     trying to help people in the local Sangat or by his 
     financial, moral, political, and personal support of the 
     freedom movement,'' he said. ``In the Fresno Gurdwara, he 
     made sure every letter written by this office was posted on 
     the walls of the Gurdwara as soon as it arrived. The Sangat 
     would browse through those documents carefully,'' Dr. Aulakh 
     said. ``I know that I will miss his counsel and advice. I 
     don't see anyone in this country who can fill the vacuum 
     created by his departure,'' Dr. Aulakh said.
       ``Sardar Nazar Singh understood that Sikhs will continue to 
     suffer oppression in India and will continue to be 
     misunderstood in this country as long as we do not have our 
     own country,'' said Dr. Autakh. ``This kind of repression 
     will continue as long as Khalistan continues to live under 
     Indian occupation,'' he said. ``Only in a sovereign, free 
     Khalistan will Sikhs live with honor and dignity where the 
     Sikh religion can flourish,'' he said. ``Nations that do not 
     have political power vanish.''
       The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 
     1984. More than 52,000 Sikh political prisoners are rotting 
     in Indian jails without charge or trial. Many have been in 
     illegal custody since 1984. Over 200,000 Christians have been 
     killed since 1947 and over 75,000 Kashmiri Muslims have been 
     killed since 1988. The Indian Supreme Court described the 
     situation in Punjab as ``worse than a genocide.'' As General 
     Narinder Singh has said, ``Punjab is a police state.'' U.S. 
     Congressman Dana Rohrabacher has said that for Sikhs, 
     Kashmiri Muslims, and other minorities ``India might as well 
     be Nazi Germany.''
       ``Sardar Nazar Singh will be greatly missed by his family 
     and by all Sikhs who care about freedom and about the dignity 
     of the Khalsa Panth,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``May Guru give peace 
     to this departed, noble soul,'' Dr. Aulakh added.

     

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