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Home , Amarinder Singh, Dal Khalsa (Sikh Army), Dharam Singh (Sikhism), Gurdev Singh Kaunke, Jagjit Singh Chohan, Jathedar

E1478 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 13, 2005 Mr. Speaker, in 1969, Judge Rodriguez found- ades of service to her Nation in uniform, and I know many of my colleagues will join me ed Fiestas Patrias, a non-profit organization for her future service to our community and its in thanking Colonel Haas for the many years dedicated to promote an awareness of their young people. of service he has given our country and in culture and heritage among young Hispanics. f congratulating him on retirement. I wish him all Judge Rodriguez has been the recipient of the best in his future endeavors. CORPORAL LYLE J. CAMBRIDGE the Alex Award from the Houston NAACP f Legal Program and the Benito Juarez Medal- lion from then President Luis of Mexico, the HON. TOM UDALL HONORING GAYLORD NELSON highest honor given a non-resident of Mexico OF NEW MEXICO for creating better goodwill and understanding IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. TAMMY BALDWIN between Mexico and the United States. Wednesday, July 13, 2005 OF WISCONSIN Finally, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES friend, Judge Armando V. Rodriguez for thirty- rise today to honor the life of Corporal Lyle Wednesday, July 13, 2005 two years of outstanding service to our com- Cambridge. munity. Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Lyle lived a life rich in the traditions of his f pay tribute to the life and legacy of Gaylord family and Navajo Culture. Unfortunately his Nelson of Wisconsin. Since his death a little IN HONOR OF RETIRING MAJOR life was cut short last Tuesday, July 5th, when more than a week ago, at age 89, much has GENERAL JANET E.A. HICKS he was killed while on patrol in Baghdad at been written about this extraordinary states- the age of 25. This was his second tour of man, environmentalist, husband, father, and HON. CHARLIE NORWOOD duty in Iraq. friend. Lyle, a graduate of Aztec High School, Gaylord Nelson was a giant in Wisconsin OF GEORGIA joined the United States Army in May 2002. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES history. In a life dedicated to public service, He followed on the same military path as his Gaylord Nelson embodied the ethics of his Wednesday, July 13, 2005 brother Vernon, who has been in the Army for state: hard work, perseverance, honesty, in- Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise 12 years, and his father Joe, a veteran of tegrity, compassion, and good humor. to recognize the lifelong dedication to our Na- Desert Storm. Gaylord Nelson was a patriot who, as a Surviving Lyle are his parents, Virginia and tion’s service of one of my constituents, Major young soldier, courageously served 46 months Joe Cambridge Sr., his wife Evonne, his two General Janet E.A. Hicks of Augusta, Georgia. in a just war, and then, as a U.S. Senator, sons, 3-year-old Wyatt and 1-year-old Nick, This week, Major General Hicks retires after courageously took a stand against a war he and many siblings. 30 years of service in the U.S. Army Signal believed was unjust. After learning of Lyle’s fate, they and other Corps. She ends her Army career as Com- As a State Senator and Governor of Wis- members of the Navajo community gathered mander of the Army Signal Center and Fort consin, Gaylord Nelson was an effective lead- to remember him and pray. Through their Gordon, in which position she has served er and natural-born politician who practiced heartache, they recalled Lyle’s generous spirit since 2002. the fine art of governing by always striving for and fun-loving personality. General Hicks graduated from Simpson Col- the common good, seeking common ground, Today and always, we also recognize the lege in Iowa, and received her Masters De- and practicing common decency. His political spirit, strength and sacrifice of Corporal Lyle gree from Georgia Southern University in battles were never personal, and his personal Statesboro. She was granted a direct commis- Cambridge. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are friendships knew no political boundaries. sion in the Army in March 1975, and attended with Lyle’s family and friends during this time As a U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson brought the Women Officers’ Orientation Course at of great loss. We salute him for his courage his energy and activism to the national stage. Fort McClellan, Alabama. and bravery. His concern for the environment was visionary Her first assignment was to the 41st Signal and relentless. Gaylord Nelson’s efforts led to Battalion in Korea. She was subsequently as- f the Environmental Protection Act, the Clean signed to the 25th Infantry Division at TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where she taught COLONEL RICHARD ‘‘MOOSE’’ HAAS Drinking Water Act. In 1995, President Bill the Signal Officer Basic and Advanced Clinton honored him with the Nation’s highest Courses. She next served at Fort Richardson, HON. DENNIS. R. REHBERG civilian award: the Presidential Medal of Free- Alaska as logistics officer, followed by an as- OF MONTANA dom. signment with Central Command MacDill Air IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Gaylord Nelson was an advocate for con- Force Base, Florida. sumers, small business owners, farmers, and She was promoted to command the 125th Wednesday, July 13, 2005 all who shared his belief in the promise of Signal Battalion, 25th Infantry Division in 1992. Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to America. After attending the Army War College, she as- salute one of the many brave men and women Above all, he was, as one report noted, ‘‘A sumed command of the 516th Signal Brigade who serve all of us in our great military. I voice crying out for the wilderness.’’ As the fa- with concurrent duties as deputy chief of staff would especially like to pay tribute today and ther of Earth Day, he leaves a legacy of envi- for information management of the U.S. Army, offer my personal thanks to Lieutenant Colonel ronmental awareness and action that has Pacific at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Richard ‘‘Moose’’ Haas, of the United States changed lives and livelihoods for the better in She assumed command of Fort Gordon in Air Force, for a job well done. communities throughout the world. 2002. As a fellow Montanan, I’d like to take this Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin was a citizen Major General Hicks has been awarded the time to highlight Colonel Haas’ service to our of the world, a leader of the highest ethical Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service country. Today, he serves in the Pentagon, standards, and a model public servant whose Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, working at the leading edge of future National life’s work will continue to inspire Americans Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf Defense writing concepts outlining how the for many generations. I join with all of Wis- clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two Department of Defense will maintain the consin in saluting him today. oak leaf clusters, and the Humanitarian Serv- peace and security of this great Nation for f ice award. years to come. Mr. Speaker, after 30 years of distinguished Moose is a highly decorated combat veteran SIKH FLAG RAISED IN service to her Nation, Janet Hicks would be winning two Distinguished Flying Crosses with CALIFORNIA perfectly justified in taking some time off to Valor during missions in Operation Desert serve herself for a change. Storm. He has also served in Operations HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS But I am pleased to note that her service to Desert Shield, Deny Flight, Provide Comfort, OF NEW YORK others will instead continue uninterrupted, as and more recently in Enduring Freedom where IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES she assumes new duties as Headmaster of he helped plan the Air Campaign against Augusta Preparatory School. Taliban and Al Qaeda forces. He has logged Wednesday, July 13, 2005 Mr. Speaker, as representative of the peo- over 2500 hours in the F–111 and F–15E Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on July 3 in ple of Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, I fighter aircraft, with over 300 of those in com- Turlock, California, the Sikh flag was raised at thank Major General Janet Hicks for her dec- bat. an event there. There were speeches from

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:55 Jul 14, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A13JY8.019 E13PT1 July 13, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1479 many distinguished , including Dr. Gurmit homeland that declared its independence Republic Day, January 26. 35 Sikhs were ar- Aulakh, President of the Council of from on October 7, 1987. The event was rested at that time. Some of them have been Khalistan, and many others. The event was shown throughout India on an Indian tele- denied bail. Cases were registered against vision channel called Aaj Tak on July 6. Dr. dozens of Sikhs for raising the Sikh flag at organized by Dal America, the Amer- Aulakh was interviewed by a California rep- the on the anniversary of the ican branch of a Sikh political party that is resentative of Voice of America. Golden Temple attack in the presence of strongly in support of independence for As soon as Dr. Aulakh raised the flag, slo- over 30,000 Sikhs. Warrants have been issued Khalistan, the Sikh homeland. Leaders of Dal gans of ‘‘Khalistan Zindabad’’ (‘‘Long live for their arrest. Those charged include have been arrested in India, along with Khalistan’’) were raised. Speakers at the Khalsa leaders such as Kanwarpal Singh other leaders, for raising the Khalistani flag event spoke out strongly for a free and inde- Bittu, Sarabjit Singh Ghuman, Dr. there. pendent Khalistan. Speakers included Dr. Manjinder Singh Jandi, and others, as well Awatar Singh Sekhon from Canada, Dr. In all, dozens were charged last month on as former Member of Parliament Simranjit Aulakh, Sekhon, Sardar Ajit Singh Singh Mann. the 21st anniversary of India’s military attack Pannu, Dr. Ranbir Singh Sandhu from Tracy, History shows that multinational states on the Golden Temple for daring to raise the California, Sardar Karj Singh Sandhu from such as India are doomed to failure. Coun- flag of Khalistan and making speeches, even Philadelphia, Dr. Paramjit Singh Ajrawat, tries like Austria-Hungary, India’s longtime though these are not crimes in India. They are Sardar Bains of Philadelphia, friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czecho- not crimes in any democratic country. Yet and others. slovakia, and others prove this point. India these charges follow the arrests of 35 Sikhs in ‘‘If anyone speaks out for freedom, the In- is a polyglot like those countries, thrown to- dian government labels them terrorists,’’ Dr. January for hoisting the Sikh flag and making gether for the convenience of the British co- Aulakh said. ‘‘This is not going to work. Ev- lonialists. It is doomed to break up as they speeches on India’s Republic Day. eryone knows the modus operandi of the In- did. Steve Forbes, writing in Forbes maga- These are just the latest acts in a pattern of dian government.’’ The Indian government zine, said that India is a multinational, repression that includes the killings of over has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, multiethnic, multireligious, multicultural, 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, over 300,000 more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland multilinguistic state that is doomed to dis- Christians in Nagaland, over 89,000 Muslims since 1948, over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir integrate like the Austro-Hungarian Empire. in Kashmir, tens of thousands more Christians since 1988, and tens of thousands of Tamils, ‘‘We must continue to pray for and work and Muslims around the country, and tens of Assamese, Bodos, Manipuris, Dalits, and oth- for our God-given birthright of freedom,’’ Dr. ers. The Indian Supreme Court called the In- thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Aulakh said. ‘‘Without political power, reli- dian government’s murders of Sikhs ‘‘worse gions cannot flourish and nations perish.’’ Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. It than a genocide.’’ seems that the more support for the freedom According to a report by the Movement COUNCIL OF KHALISTAN, movement rises, the more brutal India’s re- Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Washington, DC, July 12, 2005. pression of it gets. Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in DEAR KHALSA JI: Last month on the anni- Self-determination is the essence of democ- India without charge or trial. Some have versary of India’s brutal military attack on racy. But instead of settling the issue of free- been in illegal custody since 1984! ‘‘These the Golden Temple and 125 other dom democratically in a free and fair vote, prisoners never committed any crime but throughout , dozens of Sikhs were peacefully speaking out for Sikh freedom,’’ charged by the Indian government. Warrants India chooses to suppress the freedom move- said Dr. Aulakh. ‘‘How can there be political for their arrest were issued. Their crime was ments with excessive and brutal force. prisoners in a democracy?’’ he asked. ‘‘We raising the flag of Khalistan in the presence I am glad that we do not live in that kind of demand the release of all political pris- of over 30,000 Sikhs. We salute them for this democracy, Mr. Speaker. Instead, we live in a oners,’’ he said. action and for their courage. Apparently, country where you can say what you want, be- ‘‘As Professor Darshan Singh, a former peacefully demonstrating in support of self- lieve what you want, and raise a flag if you of the , said, ‘If a Sikh determination and freedom can get you ar- want. We must do what we can to help bring is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh’,’’ Dr. rested in India. Unfortunately, this is part of India to that kind of democracy, especially with Aulakh noted. He added that the event in a pattern. Turlock was in line with the strong senti- The flame of freedom continues to burn Prime Minister coming for a ment for freedom in Punjab, Khalistan. ‘‘We brightly in the heart of the Sikh Nation. No visit soon. must work hand-in-hand, the force can suppress it. On Republic Day, Sikh Mr. Speaker, the time has come to stop our and our Sikh brothers and sisters in Punjab, leaders raised the Sikh flag in and aid and trade with India and to put the Con- Khalistan, until the glow of freedom shines made speeches in support of Khalistan. 35 gress on record in support of self-determina- on a free and sovereign Khalistan,’’ he said. Sikhs were arrested for raising the Sikh flag. tion for the people of Punjab, Khalistan, of ‘‘I thank Sardar Sekhon for organizing this Eleven of them continue to be held and they Kashmir (as India promised in 1948), of pre- event.’’ have been denied bail. I was invited to raise ‘‘The flame of freedom still burns bright in dominantly-Christian Nagaland, and of the the flag on July 3 in Turlock, California, at the hearts of Sikhs despite the deployment an event organized by Dal Khalsa America. I other states and nations seeking their free- of over half a million Indian troops to crush would like to thank Sardar Paramjit Singh dom. It should start with the dropping of all it,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Last year, Punjab Sekhon and Sardar Gagandeep Singh of Dal charges against those arrested or charged for signed a bill Khalsa America, who invited me to hoist the raising a flag and with the release of all polit- canceling the agreements that allowed the flag of Khalistan. Speakers included Dr. ical prisoners, and I urge President Bush to diversion of Punjabi water to non-riparian Awatar Singh Sekhon from Canada, Dr. bring up these two issues when Prime Minister states. The bill asserted the sovereignty of Aulakh, Sardar Sekhon, Sardar Ajit Singh Singh is here. Only when these goals are Punjab. Sardar Atinder Pal Singh, another Pannu, Dr. Ranbir Singh Sandhu from Tracy, former Member of Parliament, held a sem- achieved can India be welcomed into the fam- California, Sardar Karj Singh Sandhu from inar on Khalistan in Punjab. It was well at- Philadelphia, Dr. Paramjit Singh Ajrawat, ily of democratic nations. Only then can these tended and featured outstanding presen- Sardar Dharam Singh Bains of Philadelphia, minorities live in freedom, peace, security, sta- tations, including one by Professor Gurtej and others. The event was shown throughout bility, dignity, and prosperity. Singh, IAS, Professor of ,’’ he said. India on an Indian television channel called Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Coun- ‘‘Dal Khalsa has held marches through Pun- Aaj Tak on July 6. I was interviewed by a cil of Khalistan’s press release on the flag jab demanding the establishment of an inde- California representative of Voice of Amer- raising in California and its open letter on the pendent Khalistan.’’ ica. When I raised the flag, slogans of charges against the Sikh activists who raised On the Anniversary of the Indian govern- ‘‘Khalistan Zindabad’’ were raised. ment’s military attack on the Golden Tem- In 1699, Gobind Singh gave sov- the flag into the RECORD at this time. ple, the center and seat of Sikhism, last ereignty to the Sikh Nation, giving the KHALISTAN FLAG HOISTED IN CALIFORNIA, month, Dal Khalsa, the Khaisa Panchayat, blessing ‘‘In grieb Sikhin ko deon Patshahi’’ USA the Shiromani (Amritsar), (‘‘I give sovereignty to the humble Sikhs.’’) WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2005.—At an , the Sikh Student Federa- Just two years after his departure from this event on July 3 in Turlock, California, tion (Bittu), and the Akal Federation earthly plane in 1708, the Sikhs established Sardar Paramjit Singh Sekhon and Sardar marched through the streets of Amritsar de- our own independent state in Punjab. Sikhs Gagandeep Singh of Dal Khalsa America, in- manding freedom for Khalistan. They carried ruled Punjab from 1710 to 1716 and from 1765 vited Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of posters of the demolished Golden Temple and to 1849. There was no such thing as India the Council of Khalistan, to hoist the flag of distributed pamphlets on the life of Sant then. Khalistan. The Council of Khalistan is the Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a Sikh leader Today we struggle to regain the sov- government pro tempore of Khalistan. It is who was murdered in the Golden Temple at- ereignty that bestowed leading the struggle for Khalistan’s inde- tack along with General Shabeg Singh, Bhai upon us over 300 years ago. Yet the Jathedar pendence. Dal Khalsa has led several , and others. Bhindranwale was of the Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Vedanti, marches and other events in Punjab to pro- a strong advocate of Sikh freedom. Dal was quoted as saying that ‘‘We don’t want a mote independence for Khalistan, the Sikh Khalsa also raised the flag of Khalistan on separate territory.’’ Does Jathedar Vedanti,

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:55 Jul 14, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JY8.024 E13PT1 E1480 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 13, 2005 like every other Sikh, pray ‘‘the Khalsa shall freedom’’ that Nehru promised us when Mas- PERSONAL EXPLANATION rule’’ every morning and evening? Has he ter and the Sikh leaders of the forgotten our heritage of freedom? How can time chose to take our share with India? the spiritual leader of the Sikh religion deny HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE the Sikh Nation’s legitimate aspiration for The Council of Khalistan has stood strong- OF HAWAII ly and consistently for liberating our home- freedom and sovereignty? Is he not stung by IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES land, Khalistan, from Indian occupation. For the words of one of his predecessors, former Wednesday, July 13, 2005 Akal Takht Jathedar Professor Darshan over 19 years we have led this fight while Singh, who said, ‘‘If a Sikh is not a others were trying to divert the resources Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, yester- Khalistani, he is not a Sikh’’? Is Akal Takht and the attention of the Sikh Nation away day, July 12, 2005, I was unavoidably absent occupied by a person who does not believe in from the issue of freedom in a sovereign, from the business of the House. Had I been Sikh values and Sikh aspirations? independent Khalistan. Khalistan is the only present, I would have voted as follows on re- Punjab’s Chief Minister, Captain way that Sikhs will be able to live in free- corded votes: Amarinder Singh, was declared a hero of the dom, peace, prosperity, and dignity. It is Rollcall vote No. 365, ordering the previous Sikh Nation for asserting Punjab’s sov- time to start a Shantmai Morcha to liberate question on H. Res. 351, ‘‘no’’; No. 366, pas- ereignty and preserving Punjab’s natural re- Khalistan from Indian occupation. source, its river water, for the use of Punjab sage of H. Res. 351, ‘‘no’’; No. 367, suspend The Akal Takht Sahib and Darbar Sahib farmers by cancelling Punjab’s water agree- the Rules and pass H. Res. 352, ‘‘no’’; No. ments. In so doing, Amarinder Singh and the are under the control of the Indian govern- 368, suspend the Rules and pass H. Res. Legislative Assembly explicitly declared the ment, the same Indian government that has 343, ‘‘yes’’; No. 369, passage of H.R. 739, sovereignty of the state of Punjab. In De- murdered more than a quarter of a million ‘‘no’’; No. 370, passage of H.R. 740, ‘‘no’’; No. cember former Member of Parliament Sikhs in the past twenty years. The Jathedar 371, passage of H.R. 741, ‘‘no’’; No. 372, pas- again reverted to pub- of the Akal Takht and the head granthi of sage of H.R. 742, ‘‘no.’’ lic support of Khalistan. He pledged that his Darbar Sahib toe the line that the Indian party will lead a peaceful movement to lib- government tells them. They are not ap- f erate Khalistan. Obviously, Mr. Mann is pointed by the Khalsa Panth. Otherwise they RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVER- aware of the rising support of our cause. would behave like a real Jathedar, Jathedar SARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT Mann joins Sardar Atinder Pal Singh, Sardar , rather than like In- OF THE VETERANS ADMINISTRA- D.S. Gill of the International Human Rights dian government puppet Jathedar Aroor Organization, and other Sikh leaders in Pun- Singh, who gave a Siropa to General Dyer for TION ON JULY 21, 1930 jab in supporting freedom for Khalistan the massacre of Sikhs and others at openly. Jagjit Singh, President of Dal Jallianwala Bagh. These institutions will re- HON. STEVE BUYER Khalsa, was quoted in the Deccan Herald as main under the control of the Indian regime OF INDIANA saying that ‘‘the Indian government can until we free the Sikh homeland, Punjab, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES never suppress the movement. Sikh aspira- Khalistan, from Indian occupation and op- tions can only be met when they have a sepa- pression and sever our relations with the Wednesday, July 13, 2005 rate state.’’ There is no other choice for the New government. Sikh nation but a sovereign, independent Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of Khalistan. Every Sikh leader must come out The Sikhs in Punjab have suffered enor- the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today I openly for Khalistan. We salute those Sikh mous repression at the hands of the Indian am introducing H. Res. 361 recognizing the leaders in Punjab who have done so. regime in the last 25 years. Over 50,000 Sikh 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Any organization that sincerely supports youth were picked up from their houses, tor- Veterans Administration on July 21, 1930. I Khalistan deserves the support of the Sikh tured, murdered in police custody, then se- am joined by the Committee’s Ranking Mem- Nation. However, the Sikh Nation needs cretly cremated as ‘‘unidentified bodies.’’ ber, Mr. EVANS, in introducing this resolution. leadership that is honest, sincere, consistent, Their remains were never even given to their More than 48 million men and women have and dedicated to the cause of Sikh freedom. families! Another 52,268 are being held as po- served America well and faithfully in military Leaders like Dr. , litical prisoners. Some have been in illegal uniform. More than 1 million made the ultimate Harchand Singh Longowal, Didar Bains, custody since 1984! Over 250,000 have been sacrifice for our freedom. Twenty-five million Ganga Singh Dhillon, the Akali Dal leader- murdered at the hands of the Indian regime. ship, and others who were complicit in the veterans are living among us today. These Even now, the capital of Punjab, , attack on the Golden Temple cannot be men and women selflessly set aside their civil- has not been handed over to Punjab, but re- trusted by the Sikh Nation. The evidence ian lives to put on the uniform and serve us. mains a Union Territory. How can Sikhs against them is clear in Chakravyuh: Web of Many return from that service bearing wounds Indian Secularism. The Sikh Nation cannot have any freedom living under a government to body and spirit. Many return hungry to take that would do these things? believe that these leaders will not betray the advantage of the fruits of the democracy they cause of Khalistan, just as they betrayed the Sikhs will never get any justice from defended, and seek education and employ- Sikh Nation in 1984. We must be careful If we Delhi. The leaders in Delhi are only inter- ment opportunity. are to continue to move the cause of freedom ested in imposing Hindu sovereignty over all for Khalistan forward in 2005 as we did in The nation’s obligation to her defenders is the minorities to advance their own careers as old as that defense itself. In his second in- 2004. and their own power. Ever since independ- The Akali Dal conspired with the Indian augural address in 1865, President Abraham ence, India has mistreated the Sikh Nation, Lincoln clearly expressed the obligation: ‘‘. . . government in 1984 to invade the Golden starting with Patel’s memo labelling Sikhs Temple to murder Sant Bhindranwale and to care for him who shall have borne the bat- ‘‘a criminal tribe.’’ What a shame for Home 20,000 other Sikh during June 1984 in Punjab. Minister Patel and the Indian government to tle, and for his widow, and his orphan.’’ Even the Pope spoke out strongly against issue this memorandum when the Sikh Na- On July 21, 1930, pursuant to a Congres- this invasion and desecration of our most sa- sional authorization, President Hoover issued cred shrine. How can these so-called Sikh tion gave over 80 percent of the sacrifices to free India. an executive order to ‘‘consolidate and coordi- leaders connive with the people who carried nate Government activities affecting war vet- It out? If Sikhs will not even protect the How can Sikhs continue to live in such a erans,’’ creating the Veterans Administration. sanctity of the Golden Temple, how can the country? There is no place for Sikhs in sup- The new VA was charged with ensuring that Sikh Nation survive as a nation? posedly secular, supposedly democratic The Akali Dal has lost all its credibility. India. Let us dedicate ourselves to living up America’s veterans received the benefits and The Badal government was so corrupt openly to the blessing of Guru Gobind Singh. It is services they had earned through their military and no Akali leader would come forward and time to launch a Shantmai Morcha to lib- service. tell Badal and his wife to stop this erate Khalistan. We must demand self-deter- Today the 230,000 public servants of the unparallelled corruption. If Jathedar mination in a free and fair vote, the demo- Department of Veterans Affairs, formed from Vedanti opposes freedom and sovereignty for cratic way. It is time to shake ourselves the VA in 1989, continue the noble tradition of the Sikh Nation, then he is not fit to sit in loose from the yoke of Indian oppression and their predecessors in service to veterans and Akal Takht, in the seat of the Khalsa Panth. liberate our homeland, Khalistan, so that all The Sikh Nation should have a Jathedar who their families. is committed to restoring sovereignty that is Sikhs may live lives of prosperity, freedom, The men and women of today’s VA are our birthright and that Guru Gobind Singh and dignity. dedicated to caring for today’s veterans and granted. Sincerely, stand ready to provide for our servicemembers Is this the freedom that Guru Gobind GURMIT SINGH AULAKH, who now defend our freedoms and our way of Singh bestowed upon us? Is this the ‘‘glow of President. life.

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