23816 Hon. Nydia M. Vela´Zquez Hon. Jerry Moran
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23816 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 152, Pt. 18 December 8, 2006 These political prisoners must be released ‘‘We appreciate and commend Professor IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH AN- at once and those who violate human rights Gurtej Singh for doing this outstanding NIVERSARY OF THE GREEN- must be brought to justice or we should stop work for the Sikh Nation,’’ said Dr. Gurmit POINT YMCA all of our aid and trade with India. And we Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of should put the U.S. Congress on record in Khalistan. ‘‘He is doing his job as Professor HON. NYDIA M. VELA´ ZQUEZ support of freedom everywhere in South Asia of Sikhism. The Sikh Nation commends him,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Only about 60 pages OF NEW YORK in the form of a plebiscite on the subject of of the Dasam Granth is the writing of Guru IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES independence, under international supervision Gobind Singh,’’ he noted. ‘‘The rest is later Friday, December 8, 2006 to ensure its fairness. Isn’t that the democratic writings that were added and changed. Guru way to do things? Gobind Singh gave guruship to the Guru Ms. VELA´ ZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today While Professor Gurtej Singh’s article is too Granth Sahib and ordered Sikhs to consider on the floor in honor of the Greenpoint YMCA long to put in the RECORD, the Council of the Guru Granth Sahib as the living Guru,’’ as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. This first Khalistan did an excellent press release on it. Dr. Aulakh noted. ‘‘The Guru Granth Sahib rate organization enriches the lives of Brook- Mr. Speaker, I would like to add that press re- is the living Guru which Sikhs accept with lyn residents every day, and it is with great lease on the Dasam Granth fraud to the reverence and respect. Recitation of the pleasure that I recognize its efforts on this mo- RECORD at this time for the information of my Dasam Granth should not take place in any mentous occasion. colleagues. Gurdwara,’’ he said. ‘‘Sikhs should practice The Greenpoint Branch stands as the sec- Rehat Maryada which was published in the PROFESSOR GURTEJ SINGH EXPOSES DASAM ond oldest YMCA building in Brooklyn and GRANTH FRAUD 1940s by the SGPC after a long review and discussion by the Khalsa Panth.’’ boasts a strong history of upholding its admi- WASHINGTON, DC, DECEMBER 7, 2006—Pro- rable mission—to promote positive values fessor Gurtej Singh, a leading Sikh scholar, Dr. Aulakh said that it is very disturbing through programs that build spirit, mind, and Professor of Sikhism, and an advisor to the that most of the Sikh leadership is under the International Journal of Sikh Affairs, has control of the Indian government. ‘‘This body, welcoming all people with a focus on published an extensive article exposing how campaign to destroy Sikhism by means of youth. This unwavering commitment to the te- Hindu fundamentalists have promoted the the Dasam Granth could not be taking place nets of community service and outreach sus- Dasam Granth, which contains very little of if we had our own homeland. We could more tains an engaged, more active citizenry, facili- the work of Guru Gobind Singh, as his writ- effectively stand up to India’s ongoing effort tating a culture of civic participation that will ing and as genuine Sikh scripture, parallel to to destroy the Sikh religion,’’ he said. surely define our neighborhoods for genera- the Guru Granth Sahib. He exposes the fact ‘‘Without political power, nations perish and that ‘‘the Hindu plan to drag the Sikhs back tions to come. to the Hindu fold’’ requires promoting the religions are destroyed,’’ he said. Thanks to the leadership of the YMCA—its Dasam Granth and that this plan has re- India is on the verge of disintegration. Founders, Board Members, Executive Direc- ceived the support of such allegedly Sikh Kashmir is about to separate from India. As tor, staff, and supporters—local residents have leaders as former Punjab Chief Minister L.K. Advani said, ‘‘if Kashmir goes, India access to a variety of educational and rec- Parkash Singh Badal and the high Sikh goes.’’ History shows that multinational reational activities that enable them to lead ‘‘high priests’’ led by Jathedar Joginder states such as India are doomed to failure. more fulfilled lives. From after-school pro- Singh Vedanti. Badal led the most corrupt ‘‘Countries like Austria-Hungary, India’s grams to various health and wellness initia- government in Punjab’s history, selling jobs longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugo- for money, and regularly visits Hindu and tives, the YMCA plays an integral role in the slavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this development of a more vibrant place to live. I other anti-Sikh places of worship, according point. India is not one country; it is a poly- to Professor Gurtej Singh. glot like those countries, thrown together commend its countless contributions toward Professor Gurtej Singh writes that the betterment of Brooklyn. Jathedar Vedanti ‘‘was given the task of ac- for the convenience of the British colonial- ists. It is doomed to break up as they did. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express hearty tually dragging the Sikh panth into the fold congratulations to the Greenpoint YMCA in of Hinduism.’’ He notes that Jathedar There is nothing in common in the culture of Vedanti, like Mr. Badal, succumbed to the a Hindu living in Bengal and one in Tamil commemoration of its 100th anniversary and temptations of money. In order to carry out Nadu, let alone between them and the minor- express best wishes for a successful future. this nefarious plan, Professor Gurtej Singh ity nations of South Asia,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. f writes, Vedanti embraced the Dasam Granth ‘‘Freedom is the God-given right of every HONORING GERALD W. TOMANEK as genuine Sikh scripture, claiming that it nation and every human being,’’ said Dr. was written by Guru Gobind Singh and was Aulakh. Sikhs must be allowed to have a free OF HAYS, KANSAS to be treated as scripture and canon. The and fair plebiscite on the issue of Khalistan. Dasam Granth includes vivid, lewd descrip- In a democracy, you cannot continue to rule HON. JERRY MORAN tions of sex acts and other pornographic and against the wishes of the people. As former obscene references that were added to Guru OF KANSAS Senator George Mitchell said about the Pal- Gobind Singh’s writing to make him look IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES estinians, ‘the essence of democracy is the bad. Friday, December 8, 2006 Professor Gurtej Singh notes that the au- right to self-determination,’ We must re- thors of the Dasam Granth identified them- claim the sovereignty of the Sikh Nation,’’ Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise selves in the text. Yet the Hindus insist that Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Currently, there are 17 today to recognize the life of Gerald W. Guru Gobind Singh is the author and that freedom movements within India’s borders. It has 18 official languages, A country having Tomanek of Hays, Kansas, and honor his ac- the book is Sikh scripture. According to Pro- complishments and character. fessor Gurtej Singh, it is a scripture of the 18 official languages cannot hold its people Shakat sect, who are worshippers of the together for very long,’’ he said. ‘‘We hope Jerry was many things to many people—an Hindu goddess Shiva, as it reflects their that India’s breakup will be peaceful like educator, a comrade, a scientific expert, a mode of worship and their practices. ‘‘It has Czechoslovakia’s, not violent like Yugo- husband and a parent. To me, Jerry was fore- been a long standing Hindu desire to bring slavia’s,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Earlier this most a trusted friend. the Sikhs under the umbrella of the Shakat year, Montenegro, which has less than a mil- Jerry and I met when I was a college stu- sect,’’ he writes. ‘‘This involves getting them lion people, became a sovereign country and dent at Fort Hays State University. From the to accept some of the rituals of that sect as a member of the United Nations,’’ he said. beginning, I was struck by his humble spirit modes of worship.’’ He goes on to write, ‘‘To ‘‘Now it is the time for the Sikh Nation of and the genuine care he showed in his inter- propagate the dasam granth as Sikh scrip- Punjab, Khalistan to become independent.’’ ture at par with Guru Granth, has been the action with me. Not too many years after we aim of a section of the Hindu zealots and a Dr Aulakh stressed his commitment to the first met, Jerry became President of Fort Hays section of the Media mostly controlled by peaceful, democratic, nonviolent struggle to State University. Years earlier, Jerry had at- such Hindus,’’ liberate Khalistan. ‘‘The only way that the tended the same institution when it was Fort According to Professor Gurtej Singh, Mr. repression will stop and Sikhs will live in freedom, dignity, and prosperity is to lib- Hays Kansas State College. As President, in Sudarshan of the fascist, Hindu militant 1977, he successfully led the effort to change Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), par- erate Khalistan,’’ said Dr. Aulakh, ‘‘As Pro- ent organization of the Hindu fundamen- fessor Darshan Singh, former Jathedar of the the school’s status to that of university. Today, talist BJP, stated that all of the Sikh ‘‘high Akal Takht, said, ‘If a Sikh is not a thanks in large part to his vision, Fort Hays priests’’ including Vedanti are on the payroll Khalistani, he is not a Sikh.’,’’ Dr.