[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 116 (Thursday, September 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  COUNCIL OF KHALISTAN CONVENTION TO BE HELD OCTOBER 7 TO 9 IN DETROIT

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan will be holding its 
annual convention in Detroit next month. It will be held from October 7 
through October 9. This is a very appropriate date because Khalistan 
declared its independence from India on October 7, 1987 and the Council 
of Khalistan was formed at that time to lead the struggle to liberate 
Khalistan, a struggle that continues to this day, 18 years later.
  It is outrageous that this struggle has had to go on so long, but the 
Council of Khalistan has been tireless in keeping it going and keeping 
the flame of freedom for the Sikh nation burning. I salute them on 
their convention and I wish them success both with their convention and 
with their efforts to bring freedom to the Sikh people.
  It is time for India to get out of Khalistan and allow the people 
there to live in freedom. Until then, Mr. Speaker, we should stop our 
aid and trade with India and demand self-determination for the people 
of Khalistan, for the Kashmiris, as India promised in 1948, for the 
people of Nagaland, and for all the people and nations of South Asia. 
That is the only way to bring peace and stability to that troubled 
region.

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