[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 31 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           INDIA REPUBLIC DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 2004

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the people of India on 
their 55th celebration of Republic Day. It was on this day in 1950 that 
India adopted its Constitution and became a modern sovereign state. 
Enshrined in that constitution are the same ideals of equality for all 
citizens, universal suffrage for those over 18, and the freedoms of 
speech, association and religion that we hold dear in the United 
States.
  I am pleased to represent central New Jersey's Indian Americans in 
the U.S. House of Representatives and to be a member of the 
Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. It is with pleasure 
today that I express my praise for India's commitment to democracy.
  India's struggle for independence cost many lives, but also united 
Indians of many peoples. We honor those, especially Mohandas Mahatma 
Ghandi, who struggled for India's independence. Ghandi's non-violent 
form of resistance has set an example to all of us around the world. 
Freedom can be achieved through peaceful protest. India's leaders are 
currently working to broker peace with Pakistan and I commend them for 
their efforts to end this horrible conflict through peaceful 
negotiations.
  India adopted its Constitution and swore in its first president, Dr. 
Rajendra Prasad, only 894 days after the withdrawal of the British 
Empire's forces. Today, India can be proud to hold the title of the 
world's largest democracy as it prepares for upcoming elections in 
April.
  When I made my first trip to India in 1977, it was just after the 
lifting of the Emergency. At the time, India was facing a challenge to 
its democratic institutions. As the Indian people proved later that 
year by voting out Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who had temporarily 
suspended the Indian Constitution during the Emergency period, they 
were resilient democrats.
  I am always impressed with India for the remarkable dexterity with 
which its people make democracy work in a country of such incomparable 
diversity and size. The United States may be the world's oldest 
democracy, but India is by far the world's largest. I believe that the 
rest of the world, including the United States, has something to learn 
from India and its democratic accomplishments.
  I am pleased to see India and the U.S. working so closely together. 
Each year for the past several years, U.S.-India relations have 
advanced to higher and higher plateaus. India has been an outspoken 
supporter of our Nation's war on terror. India and her people have 
endured terrorist attacks and, like the American people, they are 
resolute in fighting against future threats.
  In New Jersey, I have never felt too far away from India because I 
have the good fortune to have so many wonderful Indian-American 
neighbors. I look forward to continuing to represent the Indian 
American community of central New Jersey and to seeing India's 
democracy continue to flourish in the years to come.

                          ____________________