July 13, 2005 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 15917 HONORING GAYLORD NELSON ican branch of a Sikh political party that is from India on October 7, 1987. The event was strongly in support of independence for shown throughout India on an Indian tele- Khalistan, the Sikh homeland. Leaders of Dal vision channel called Aaj Tak on July 6. Dr. HON. TAMMY BALDWIN Aulakh was interviewed by a California rep- OF WISCONSIN Khalsa have been arrested in India, along with resentative of Voice of America. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES other leaders, for raising the Khalistani flag As soon as Dr. Aulakh raised the flag, slo- there. gans of ‘‘Khalistan Zindabad’’ (‘‘Long live Wednesday, July 13, 2005 In all, dozens were charged last month on Khalistan’’) were raised. Speakers at the Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to the 21st anniversary of India’s military attack event spoke out strongly for a free and inde- pay tribute to the life and legacy of Gaylord on the for daring to raise the pendent Khalistan. Speakers included Dr. Nelson of Wisconsin. Since his death a little flag of Khalistan and making speeches, even Awatar Singh Sekhon from Canada, Dr. more than a week ago, at age 89, much has though these are not crimes in India. They are Aulakh, Sardar Sekhon, Sardar Ajit Singh not crimes in any democratic country. Yet Pannu, Dr. Ranbir Singh Sandhu from Tracy, been written about this extraordinary states- California, Sardar Karj Singh Sandhu from man, environmentalist, husband, father, and these charges follow the arrests of 35 Sikhs in Philadelphia, Dr. Paramjit Singh Ajrawat, friend. January for hoisting the Sikh flag and making Sardar Dharam Singh Bains of Philadelphia, Gaylord Nelson was a giant in Wisconsin speeches on India’s Republic Day. and others. history. In a life dedicated to public service, These are just the latest acts in a pattern of ‘‘If anyone speaks out for freedom, the In- Gaylord Nelson embodied the ethics of his repression that includes the killings of over dian government labels them terrorists,’’ Dr. state: hard work, perseverance, honesty, in- 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, over 300,000 Aulakh said. ‘‘This is not going to work. Ev- tegrity, compassion, and good humor. Christians in Nagaland, over 89,000 Muslims eryone knows the modus operandi of the In- Gaylord Nelson was a patriot who, as a in Kashmir, tens of thousands more Christians dian government.’’ The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, young soldier, courageously served 46 months and Muslims around the country, and tens of more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland in a just war, and then, as a U.S. Senator, thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, since 1948, over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir courageously took a stand against a war he Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. It since 1988, and tens of thousands of Tamils, believed was unjust. seems that the more support for the freedom Assamese, Bodos, Manipuris, Dalits, and oth- As a State Senator and Governor of Wis- movement rises, the more brutal India’s re- ers. The Indian Supreme Court called the In- consin, Gaylord Nelson was an effective lead- pression of it gets. dian government’s murders of Sikhs ‘‘worse er and natural-born politician who practiced Self-determination is the essence of democ- than a genocide.’’ the fine art of governing by always striving for racy. But instead of settling the issue of free- According to a report by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 the common good, seeking common ground, dom democratically in a free and fair vote, Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in and practicing common decency. His political India chooses to suppress the freedom move- India without charge or trial. Some have battles were never personal, and his personal ments with excessive and brutal force. been in illegal custody since 1984! ‘‘These friendships knew no political boundaries. I am glad that we do not live in that kind of prisoners never committed any crime but As a U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson brought democracy, Mr. Speaker. Instead, we live in a peacefully speaking out for Sikh freedom,’’ his energy and activism to the national stage. country where you can say what you want, be- said Dr. Aulakh. ‘‘How can there be political His concern for the environment was visionary lieve what you want, and raise a flag if you prisoners in a democracy?’’ he asked. ‘‘We and relentless. Gaylord Nelson’s efforts led to want. We must do what we can to help bring demand the release of all political pris- oners,’’ he said. the Environmental Protection Act, the Clean India to that kind of democracy, especially with ‘‘As Professor Darshan Singh, a former Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Prime Minister Manmohan Singh coming for a Jathedar of the , said, ‘If a Sikh Drinking Water Act. In 1995, President Bill visit soon. is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh’,’’ Dr. Clinton honored him with the Nation’s highest Mr. Speaker, the time has come to stop our Aulakh noted. He added that the event in civilian award: the Presidential Medal of Free- aid and trade with India and to put the Con- Turlock was in line with the strong senti- dom. gress on record in support of self-determina- ment for freedom in Punjab, Khalistan. ‘‘We Gaylord Nelson was an advocate for con- tion for the people of Punjab, Khalistan, of must work hand-in-hand, the Sikh diaspora sumers, small business owners, farmers, and Kashmir (as India promised in 1948), of pre- and our Sikh brothers and sisters in Punjab, Khalistan, until the glow of freedom shines all who shared his belief in the promise of dominantly-Christian Nagaland, and of the on a free and sovereign Khalistan,’’ he said. America. other states and nations seeking their free- ‘‘I thank Sardar Sekhon for organizing this Above all, he was, as one report noted, ‘‘A dom. It should start with the dropping of all event.’’ voice crying out for the wilderness.’’ As the fa- charges against those arrested or charged for ‘‘The flame of freedom still burns bright in ther of Earth Day, he leaves a legacy of envi- raising a flag and with the release of all polit- the hearts of Sikhs despite the deployment ronmental awareness and action that has ical prisoners, and I urge President Bush to of over half a million Indian troops to crush changed lives and livelihoods for the better in bring up these two issues when Prime Minister it,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Last year, Punjab communities throughout the world. Singh is here. Only when these goals are Chief Minister Amarinder Singh signed a bill Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin was a citizen canceling the agreements that allowed the achieved can India be welcomed into the fam- diversion of Punjabi water to non-riparian of the world, a leader of the highest ethical ily of democratic nations. Only then can these states. The bill asserted the sovereignty of standards, and a model public servant whose minorities live in freedom, peace, security, sta- Punjab. Sardar Atinder Pal Singh, another life’s work will continue to inspire Americans bility, dignity, and prosperity. former Member of Parliament, held a sem- for many generations. I join with all of Wis- Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Coun- inar on Khalistan in Punjab. It was well at- consin in saluting him today. cil of Khalistan’s press release on the flag tended and featured outstanding presen- f raising in California and its open letter on the tations, including one by Professor Gurtej charges against the Sikh activists who raised Singh, IAS, Professor of Sikhism,’’ he said. SIKH FLAG RAISED IN ‘‘Dal Khalsa has held marches through Pun- the flag into the RECORD at this time. CALIFORNIA jab demanding the establishment of an inde- KHALISTAN FLAG HOISTED IN CALIFORNIA, pendent Khalistan.’’ USA On the Anniversary of the Indian govern- HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2005.—At an ment’s military attack on the Golden Tem- OF NEW YORK event on July 3 in Turlock, California, ple, the center and seat of Sikhism, last IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Sardar Paramjit Singh Sekhon and Sardar month, Dal Khalsa, the Khaisa Panchayat, Gagandeep Singh of Dal Khalsa America, in- the (), Wednesday, July 13, 2005 vited Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of Damdami Taksal, the Sikh Student Federa- Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on July 3 in the Council of Khalistan, to hoist the flag of tion (Bittu), and the Akal Federation Turlock, California, the Sikh flag was raised at Khalistan. The Council of Khalistan is the marched through the streets of Amritsar de- government pro tempore of Khalistan. It is manding freedom for Khalistan. They carried an event there. There were speeches from leading the struggle for Khalistan’s inde- posters of the demolished Golden Temple and many distinguished Sikhs, including Dr. Gurmit pendence. Dal Khalsa has led several distributed pamphlets on the life of Sant Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of marches and other events in Punjab to pro- Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a Sikh leader Khalistan, and many others. The event was mote independence for Khalistan, the Sikh who was murdered in the Golden Temple at- organized by Dal Khalsa America, the Amer- homeland that declared its independence tack along with General Shabeg Singh, Bhai

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