E552 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 20, 2004 COMMEMORATING COMMUNITY The Council of Khalistan published a press pendence for the Sikh homeland, Khalistan, BANKS OF PENNSYLVANIA release on April 6 which details the betrayal of as declared on October 7, 1987. ‘‘We pray for the by Mr. Tohra. It is excellent reading them in their time of loss and may bless this departed soul,’’ he said. ‘‘However, HON. MELISSA A. HART and I recommend it to my colleagues. it is better to leave a legacy of service and OF PENNSYLVANIA In that press release, the Council of sacrifice rather than a legacy of betrayal as Khalistan took note of Mr. Tohra’s invitation to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tohra did,’’ he said. ‘‘What Tohra did in life the Indian government to launch its military at- will remain a part of the history of the Sikh Tuesday, April 20, 2004 tack on the Golden , the most sacred Nation. He will not be remembered as a Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take of Sikh shrines, in June 1984, in order to friend of the Sikh Nation,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. this opportunity to commemorate the Commu- eliminate his political rival, Sant Jarnail Singh Tohra connived with the Indian govern- ment prior to its invasion of the Golden nity Banks of Pennsylvania and the more than Bhindranwale, who was a strong advocate of Temple, the center and seat of the Sikh reli- 40,000 full- and part-time employees who an independent Sikh state, Khalistan. Sikhs gion. The is the headquarters have helped provide the Commonwealth with will be commemorating this brutal attack on of the SGPC. He joined with Harchand Singh more than 170 years of financial support. I am June 5 here in Washington. The Indian forces Longowal and others in inviting the Indian honored to note that the Pennsylvania State simultaneously attacked 125 Sikh government to attack the Golden Temple to Senate has designated April 19, 2004, through throughout and murdered over 20,000 murder pro-Khalistani leaders Jarnail Singh April 24, 2004, as ‘‘Community Banking Sikhs in these attacks alone. They shot bullet Bhindranwale, General , and others, even while they were telling the Sikh Week.’’ holes in the Sikh holy scriptures, the Guru Nation that Indian tanks would ‘‘have to roll With more than $180 billion in assets, Com- Granth Sahib. They took young Sikh boys over our dead bodies’’ to get to the Temple. munity Banks recognize that when money ages 8 through 13 out in the courtyard and From June 3 through June 6, 1984, the Indian stays in a town, it becomes a renewable re- shot them at point blank range. Meanwhile, government carried out Operation Bluestar, source, creating an economic cycle that con- Mr. Tohra, who had said that the tanks would a military attack on the Golden Temple and stantly revitalizes and stimulates local commu- have to roll over his body to get to the Tem- over 125 other Sikh throughout Pun- nities. Community Banks work with the citi- ple, came out with his hands up. The Golden jab. More than 20,000 Sikhs were killed in Op- zens in every sense of the word. These banks Temple complex is also the headquarters of eration Bluestar. Longowal was assassinated by a patriotic Sikh for his betrayal of the have made significant contributions to the eco- the SGPC. Sikh Nation. ‘‘Sikhs can never forgive or for- nomic well-being of the Commonwealth Mr. Tohra was also in a longstanding polit- get the attack on the Golden Temple,’’ said through their financial support, their dedication ical alliance with the corrupt Parkash Singh Dr. Aulakh. On Saturday, June 5, Sikhs will as good neighbors and, above all, through Badal, who was thrown out of office after run- gather in Washington, D.C. to commemorate their service as financially sound and reliable ning the most corrupt government in Punjab’s the twentieth anniversary of this brutal sources of economic lifeblood in our commu- history—a regime so corrupt that the voters massacre and desecration. nities. chose the Congress Party, which organized The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 The Community Banks have long helped in and carried out the Golden Temple attack, Christians since 1948, over 85,000 Muslims in the development of our communities and of rather than re-elect Mr. Badal. Mr. Tohra also Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of this Commonwealth as a whole. On average, was an ally of the Indian government, first Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits, and 95 percent of their loan portfolio is reinvested under the Congress Party and then under the others. The Indian Supreme Court called the in their own communities through residential current regime of the BJP. This is the same Indian government’s murders of Sikhs mortgages and commercial, agricultural and Indian government that has murdered over ‘‘worse than a genocide.’’ According to a student loans. Indeed, neighbors are helping 250,000 Sikhs, Mr. Speaker. It is also holding study by the Movement Against State Re- neighbors build homes, save for higher edu- over 52,000 Sikhs as political prisoners, some pression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held in illegal detention as political prisoners cation, plan for retirement and fulfill life-long since the 1984 attacks! without charge or trial. In September 1995, dreams. With Mr. Tohra gone, new leaders must human-rights activist Khalra I ask that my colleagues in the House of emerge. I call on my Sikh friends to make was kidnapped by police for publishing a Representatives join me in honoring this inte- sure that these new leaders are strong sup- study documenting that the Indian govern- gral aspect of the Commonwealth of Penn- porters of freedom for the Sikhs of Punjab, ment secretly cremated thousands of Sikh sylvania’s economy during Community Bank- Khalistan. And as the beacon of freedom, I youth by declaring them ‘‘unidentified bod- er’s Week. Without the continued support that urge the United States to take action to help ies’’ after torturing and murdering them. He the Community Banks have provided to Penn- liberate the Sikh Nation and all the nations was murdered about six weeks later while in seeking their freedom from , including police custody. His body was never returned sylvania, much of the success that the Com- to his family. Police SSP Swaran Singh monwealth has experienced would have been Kashmir, predominantly Christian Nagalim, Ghotna murdered former of the impossible. and others. Takht . f The time has come to stop our aid to India Although Tohra was not corrupt like until it respects the basic human rights of all former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh , SIKH people within its borders and to demand that Badal, he maintained an alliance with Badal, LEADER, DIES—LEFT LEGACY OF India act like the democracy it says it is by even though he once said publicly that he BETRAYAL holding a free and fair vote on the matter of would not even go near Badal’s grave. The independence for Khalistan, for Kashmir, for Badal regime was the most corrupt in Punjab’s history. In 1993, Tohra urged Sikhs HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS Nagalim, and for all the other nations seeking to ‘‘prepare for the long struggle’’ to liberate OF NEW YORK their freedom. This is the democratic way and Khalistan, yet he maintained a political alli- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES self-determination is the essence of democ- ance with the Indian government, first with racy. It is also the only way to prevent leaders the Congress Party (which carried out the Tuesday, April 20, 2004 in the mode of Gurcharan Singh Tohra from Golden Temple attack) and then with the Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I noticed in the emerging again to connive with the Indian militant Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata April 3 issue of the Washington Post that government to keep the Sikhs in slavery. Party (BJP.) ‘‘It seems as if there were two Gurcharan Singh Tohra, a Sikh who led the Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Coun- Gurcharan Singh Tohras,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. India is not one country; it is a polyglot Shiromani Prabandhak Committee cil of Khalistan’s press release on Mr. Tohra thrown together by the British for their ad- (SGPC), the Sikhs’ highest administrative into the RECORD at this time. ministrative convenience. Sikhs ruled Pun- body, which administers all the Sikh places of G.S. TOHRA PASSES AWAY AT 79 jab until 1849 when the British conquered the worship, called Gurdwaras, in Punjab, died WASHINGTON, DC, April 6, 2004.—Gurcharan subcontinent. Sikhs were equal partners dur- April 1 in a hospital in New Delhi. He was 79 Singh Tohra, the longtime President of the ing the transfer of power from the British. years old. Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Com- The Muslim leader Jinnah got Pakistan, the On behalf of my colleagues in the U.S. Con- mittee (SGPC), which runs all the Gurdwaras Hindu leaders got India, but the Sikh leader- gress, I would like to extend my sympathies to (Sikh places of worship) in Punjab, died of a ship was fooled by the Hindu leadership into taking their share with India on the promise Mr. Tohra’s family. In this time of loss for heart attack April 1 in New Delhi. He was 79 years old. that Sikhs would have ‘‘the glow of freedom’’ them, we all pray for them and for the de- ‘‘We offer our sympathies and prayers to in northwest India. For that mistake, Sikhs parted. However, it is important to have the Mr. Tohra’s family,’’ said Dr. Gurmit Singh are suffering now. ‘‘As Professor Darshan record reflect the actions that Mr. Tohra took Aulakh, President of the Council of Singh, a former Jathedar of the , against his own people. Khalistan, which leads the struggle for inde- said, ‘If a Sikh is not for Khalistan, he is not

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