[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7618]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              CELEBRATING 300 YEARS OF THE SIKH COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 27, 1999

  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, on April 10th, this city was 
treated to the sight of the thousands of Americans of the Sikh religion 
marching through Washington to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the 
Sikh's most sacred event, the founding of the ``Khalsa'' (Community of 
Sikh believers). For Sikhs in this country and around the world, it was 
a sacred and inspiring day.
  However, both the reporting of the march and several subsequent 
comments placed in the Congressional Record, made it appear as if the 
march was something it was not. For some reason, the comments in the 
newspaper and elsewhere made it appear as if the entire U.S. Sikh 
community was here to advocate separation from India, home of the 
world's largest Sikh community. This was simply not true. The Sikhs who 
came to Washington traveled here to show pride in their religion and 
their way of life. They came to celebrate the deep and abiding three-
century heritage as found among the 22 million Sikhs worldwide.
  It is a heritage that has enriched both this nation and the Sikhs 
home country, India. Sikhs have served at all levels of government in 
India, including the Presidency. They have played a key role in India's 
economic and military development. The vast majority of Sikhs are 
committed to India and its continued progress. The Sikh community is 
held in high regard by all Indians.
  Sadly, a small number of Sikhs here seem to have been determined to 
pervert the purpose of the march. It was their intent to promote a 
narrow agenda--a partial dissolution of the world's most populous 
democracy, India. While this small minority is vocal and active, it is 
a very small minority of American and world Sikhs. But being active, it 
was their comments that got reported in the press and reprinted in the 
Record. What they espouse, a separate homeland for Sikhs has virtually 
no support in the Sikhs traditional homeland, the Punjab of India, and 
very little support here in the United States. And for good reason. 
Rupturing the territorial integrity of India invites greater 
instability in a region of the world where U.S. interests are best 
served by stability.
  Mr. Speaker, the April 10 march showed the finest of America--freedom 
of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech. The great numbers 
of Sikhs who visited our city recently came here to celebrate their 
religion and their way of life. Any suggestion that these Sikhs came 
here with a political agenda is incorrect and does a disservice to the 
community at large.




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