[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 31509-31510]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               BIRTHDAY OF GURU NANAK, FOUNDER OF SIKHISM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2007

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, this month marks the 538th birthday of Guru 
Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. As you may know, Guru Nanak 
was born in 1469 in what is now West Punjab. Every year, Sikhs from 
around the world gather in Nankana Sahib, where Guru Nanak was born, to 
honor him. Let me take this opportunity to honor Guru Nanak also and to 
congratulate the Sikhs of the world on this important occasion.
  Guru Nanak stood up to tyranny. He worked to liberate his people from 
the tyranny of the Moghul ruler Babar. Today, Sikhs suffer under 
oppression from Hindu rulers who have murdered over a quarter of a 
million of them and

[[Page 31510]]

hold more than 52,000 as political prisoners. They also killed over 
300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir, and 
tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and 
other minorities. This oppression is no more acceptable than the 
oppression of Guru Nanak's time.
  Sikhs can honor Guru Nanak by standing up to India to secure their 
own freedom and helping the other minorities secure theirs too. Freedom 
is the longing of every human heart. God intends for everyone to be 
free.
  We are the primary power in today's world, Madam Speaker. We can use 
our influence to support the cause of freedom in South Asia. By doing 
so, we can honor Guru Nanak and all those who have worked for freedom 
around the world.
  The time has come to let India know that if it is going to proclaim 
itself a democracy, it must act like one. That means allowing everyone, 
including minorities, to exercise their most basic human rights. 
Freedom is the birthright of all people. If India will not do so, it 
should be placed back on the list of nations that do not respect 
religious freedom, as it was at one time, and the appropriate sanctions 
should be imposed. In addition, unless India is willing to live up to 
its democratic principles, we should stop our aid to India in all 
forms.
  Acting like a democracy also means recognizing the right of self-
determination. Self-determination is the essence of democracy. Where is 
the vote on the status of Kashmir that India promised a mere 59 years 
ago? Does it take 59 years to set up a free and fair vote? Khalistan, 
the Sikh homeland, declared itself independent 20 years ago. Where is 
the vote on its status? And what of the Nagas and all the people simply 
seeking the freedom to rule themselves? The United States carries a lot 
of weight in the world. If we are serious about spreading democracy, we 
should work to bring about self-determination for all the peoples and 
nations of the subcontinent. That would help all people shake off 
oppression and live in dignity and prosperity, and it is the right 
thing to do.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's open 
letter regarding the birthday of Guru Nanak into the Record.

 Congratulations to the Khalsa Panth on the Parkash Devas of Guru Nanak

       Dear Khalsa Panth: As you know, this month marks the 
     birthday (Parkash Devas) of the first Sikh Guru; Guru Nanak, 
     founder of the Sikh religion. Congratulations to the Sikh 
     Nation on this momentous occasion.
       This year marks the 538th anniversary of the birth of Guru 
     Nanak. He was born in 1469 and departed this world for his 
     heavenly abode in 1539. Guru Nanak was the founder of the 
     Sikh religion. (``Mary Sikha Jagat Witch Nanak Nirmal Panth 
     Chalaya.'') On November 24 in Nankana Sahib, now in West 
     Punjab, Sikhs from around the world will celebrate this 
     occasion. Last year, over 10,000 showed up for the 
     celebration. Crowds enthusiastically raised slogans of 
     ``Khalistan Zindabad!'' The Sangat showed great devotion and 
     reverence on this pious occasion.
       Guru Nanak confronted Babar, the Moghul ruler of the time 
     and called him a Jabbar (oppressor) and spoke out against the 
     tyranny of the rulers of that time. He was even imprisoned by 
     Babar, along with his followers. Today, Sikhs face similar 
     oppression by the Hindu rulers of India.
       Just as Guru Nanak spoke out against the Moghul tyrant 
     Babar, we must work to free our Sikh brothers and sisters 
     from the oppression of the Brahmins. It is incumbent on us to 
     achieve freedom for Khalistan, as is our birthright. As 
     former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Professor Darshan Singh has 
     said, ``If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh.''
       India has murdered over 250,000 of our Sikh brothers and 
     sisters, as well as more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, 
     over 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims, and tens of thousands of other 
     minorities. More than 52,000 Sikhs (and tens of thousands of 
     other minorities) are being held as political prisoners. In 
     1994, the U.S. State Department reported that the Indian 
     government had paid over 41,000 cash bounties for killing 
     Sikhs.
       A MASR report quotes the Punjab Civil Magistracy as writing 
     ``if we add up the figures of the last few years the number 
     of innocent persons killed would run into lakhs [hundreds of 
     thousands.]'' The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian 
     government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' Guru 
     Nanak did not tolerate oppression; he struggled against it 
     wherever it reared its ugly head. We must be good followers 
     of Guru Nanak by doing the same today. India is also 
     destroying Sikhs economically. The Indian government fixes 
     the price for fertilizer very high and the price for produce 
     very low so Sikh farmers can't even get the cost of 
     production for their crops. This year it fixed the wheat 
     price at Rs 750 per quintal. Even Badal demanded Rs 1000 per 
     quintal. If Punjab farmers could sell their produce across 
     the border in Pakistan and the Middle East, they could easily 
     get close to Rs 1,500 per quintal and would be able to make a 
     living.
       India diverts Punajb's river water, its natural resource, 
     to neighboring Haryana and Rajasthan without any 
     compensation. India seeks to destroy the Sikh Nation 
     religiously, economically, and politically. Guru Nanak would 
     not permit them to do so. We must show the spirit of Guru 
     Nanak and reclaim our sovereignty.
       Guru Nanak travelled extensively, to the Middle East, where 
     he visited Baghdad, and throughout India, along with his two 
     companions, one Hindu, one Muslim. He spread his message of 
     truthfulness, respect for the rights of individuals, earning 
     an honest living, sharing with the needy, and praying to 
     Almighty God. He was revered by Hindus and Muslims alike. 
     When he left this world, his body was not found. The sheet 
     covering his body was torn in two. The Hindus cremated it and 
     the Muslims buried it, each according to their customs. 
     Overcoming oppression in today's world will earn the Sikhs of 
     today similar respect. We must not accept India's tyrannical 
     rule over our homeland.
       Guru Nanak is remembered as Baba Nanak Shah Faqir, Hindu Da 
     Guru, Mussleman Da Pir. He preached the equality of the 
     entire human race, including gender equality. To this day, 
     these are cornerstones of the Sikh religion. But our Sikh 
     brethren in Punjab, Khalistan do not get to experience 
     equality. Instead, they are subjected to the worst kind of 
     oppression by the Indian regime.
       India is on the verge of disintegration. Kashmir is about 
     to separate from India. As L.K. Advani said, ``If Kashmir 
     goes, India goes.'' History shows that multinational states 
     such as India are doomed to failure. Countries like Austria-
     Hungary, India's longtime friend the Soviet Union, 
     Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this point. 
     India is not one country; it is a polyglot like those 
     countries, thrown together for the convenience of the British 
     colonialists. It is doomed to break up as they did. 
     Currently, there are 17 freedom movements within India's 
     borders. It has 18 official languages. Montenegro, which has 
     less than a million people, has become a sovereign country 
     and a member of the United Nations. Now it is the time for 
     the Sikh Nation of Punjab, Khalistan to become independent. 
     The sooner the better.
       Guru Nanak gave the Sikhs our identity. We can honor him by 
     reclaiming the freedom that is our birthright: ``Raj Bina Na 
     Dharam Chaley Hain, Dharam Bina Sab Dale Male Hain.'' 
     (``Without political power, a religion cannot flourish and 
     without religion, people are oppressed and persecuted.'') Let 
     us stand up for the ideals of Guru Nanak and defend the 
     integrity of the Sikh religion and the Sikh Nation.
           Sincerely,

                                       Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh

                                                        President,
     Council of Khalistan.

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