5226 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 153, Pt. 4 March 1, 2007 COUNCIL OF KHALISTAN COM- ed. Since the Akalls and the BJP are coali- ures of the last few years the number of in- MENTS ON PUNJAB ELECTIONS tion partners, this puts the Akall coalition nocent persons killed would run into lakhs back in charge with a 67-seat majority. As a [hundreds of thousands.]’’ The Indian Su- reward, the BJP got the position of Deputy preme Court called the Indian government’s HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS Chief Minister. murders of Sikhs ‘‘worse than a genocide.’’ OF NEW YORK ‘‘It is sad that the people of Punjab are re- The MASR report states that 52,268 Sikhs are IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES enacting the cycle of choosing between the being held as political prisoners in India Thursday, March 1, 2007 Congress Party, which presided over the without charge or trial, mostly under a re- massacre of Sikhs and the Akalis, whose coa- pressive law known as the ‘‘Terrorist and Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, the Council lition partner, the BJP, wants to wipe out Disruptive Activities Act’’ (TADA), which of Khalistan recently issued a press release the Sikhs and all minorities,’’ said Dr. expired in 1995. Many have been in illegal on the elections in Punjab and the victory of Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the custody since 1984. There has been no list the Shiromani Akali Dal. Dr. Gurmit Singh Council of Khalistan. ‘‘Captain Amarinder published of those who were acquitted under Singh is to be given credit for doing some TADA and those who are still rotting in In- Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, dian jails. Tens of thousands of other minori- noted the unfortunate cycle between the Con- pro-Sikh things like cancelling the water agreements that permitted the diversion of ties are also being held as political prisoners, gress party, which was primarily responsible Punjab’s water to non-riparian states,’’ said according to Amnesty International. Last for the genocide against Sikhs, and the Dr. Aulakh. ‘‘But he is still trapped by the year, 35 Sikhs were charged and arrested in Shiromani Akali Dal, which is in coalition with Congress Party. Badal, who presided over the Punjab for making speeches in support of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party most corrupt government in Punjab’s his- Khalistan and raising the Khalistani flag. (BJP), which is the political arm of the tory, has pledged clean government. He has ‘‘How can making speeches and raising a flag Rashtriya Swayamsewak Singh (RSS), an or- promised free electricity for Punjab farmers be considered crimes in a democratic soci- and Rs4 per kilo for wheat flour and Rs20 per ety?’’ asked Dr. Aulakh. ganization formed in support of the Fascists of India is on the verge of disintegration. Europe which has been responsible for acts of kilo for lentils to the poor. Let’s see if he keeps his word, Dr. Aulakh said. Kashmir is about to separate from India. As violence against minorities. The RSS also ‘‘Radal is the head of a Sikh religious and L.K. Advani said, ‘‘If Kashmir goes, India published a booklet on how to implicate mi- political body. His party controls the goes.’’ History shows that multinational norities such as Sikhs, Christians, and others Gurdwaras in Punjab. That’s where he got states such as India are doomed to failure. in false criminal cases. An alternative to these the money to buy the alcohol for his elec- ‘‘Countries like Austria-Hungary, India’s longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugo- tion,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. He noted that the two parties is sorely needed. The Sikh nation slavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this BJP, the Akalls’ coalition partner, is the po- needs leaders who are committed to pro- point. India is not one country; it is a poly- litical arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak tecting their interests. glot liKe those countries, thrown together Sangh (RSS). a pro-Fascist organization that As you know, Madam Speaker, former for the convenience of the British colonial- has worked to eliminate minorities from ists. It is doomed to break up as they did. President Bill Clinton, in his foreword to Mad- India. ‘‘Is Badal on the side of the Sikhs or There is nothing in common in the culture of eline Albright’s book, wrote that 38 Sikhs in the RSS?’’ Dr. Aulakh asked. He called on a Hindu living in Bengal and one in Tamil Chithisinghpora were murdered while he was the Badal government to get Chandigarh Nadu, let alone between them and the minor- visiting by Hindu militants. New York Times re- back for Punjab. ‘‘Punjab built Chandigarh ity nations of South Asia,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. porter Barry Bearak has concluded that the In- to be its capital. It properly belongs to us. ‘‘Freedom is the God-given right of every dian government’s forces were responsible. The government of Punjab should be press- nation and every human being,’’ said Dr. Although the killers dressed as ‘‘militants,’’ ing to get our capital back,’’ he said. Aulakh. He noted that the Indian govern- they spoke to each other in the language of ‘‘Remember that the Akalls once called on ment was already spinning the results. the Sikh Nation to carry out ‘the long strug- ‘‘Their wholly-owned U.S. Congressman, the Indian army. It appears that this is just an- gle to liberate Khalistan,’ ’’ Dr. Aulakh said. other of the many incidents where either the Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) has already ‘‘These elections show why we must liberate portrayed the elections as a rejection of Indian military or its paid ‘‘Black Cats’’ para- Khalistan from Indian occupation and op- Khalistan, even though the voters defeated military units have been caught carrying out pression,’’ said Dr. Aulakh. ‘‘That is the only the Congress Party, which is against terrorist incidents in the guise of alleged ‘‘mili- way for Sikhs to protect ourselves from In- Khalistan,’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Congressman tants.’’ dia’s brutality. Elections under the Indian Pallone sounds like he is being compensated Remember that according to India Today, constitution will only perpetuate it. The by the Indian regime,’’ Dr. Aulakh noted. India’s leading news magazine, it was the only way that the repression will stop and ‘‘Sikhs must be allowed to have a free and lndian government itself that created the Lib- Sikhs will live in freedom, dignity, and pros- fair plebiscite on the issue of Khalistan. In a perity is to liberate Khalistan,’’ said Dr. eration Tigers of Tamil Eelam, identified by the democracy, you cannot continue to rule Aulakh. ‘‘As Professor Darshan Singh, against the wishes of the people,’’ he said. U.S. government as a terrorist organization. former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, ‘If ‘‘The essence of democracy is the right to Madam Speaker, the essence of democracy a Sikh is not a Khallstani, he is not a self-determination. Currently, there are 17 is the right to self-determination. It is time for Sikh.’,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. freedom movements within India’s borders. India to end the repression of its minorities After human-rights activist Jaswant Singh It has 16 official languages. It cannot hold and allow them to exercise their basic demo- Khalra exposed the Indian government’s pol- together for very long,’’ he said. ‘‘We hope cratic right to a free and fair vote on the ques- icy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in which that India’s breakup will be peaceful like tion of independence. This Congress should over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tor- Czechoslovakia’s, not violent like Yugo- tured, and murdered, then their bodies were put itself on record demanding that India do slavia’s,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Earlier this declared unidentified and secretly cremated, year, Montenegro, which is less than a mil- so. Further, we should cut off our aid to India the police kidnapped him. Khalra was mur- lion people, became a sovereign country and and our trade with that country until full human dered in police custody. No one has been a member of the United Nations,’’ he said. rights, including the right to self-determinatlon, brought to justice for the kidnapping and ‘‘Now it is the time for the Sikh Nation of are enjoyed by all the people there. murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra. Rajiv Punjab, Khalistan to become independent. Madam Speaker, I request permission to Singh Randhawa, who was the only witness We must free Khalistan now.’’ place the Council of Khalistan’s press release to the Khalra kidnapping, has been repeat- f on the Punjab ejections into the RECORD at edly subjected to police harassment. This in- TRIBUTE TO THE RIVERDALE this time. cludes being arrested for trying to hand a piece of paper to then-British Home Sec- VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT [From the Council of Khalistan—Press retary Jack Straw in front of the Golden Release] Temple. The police never released the body AKALI DAL WINS PUNJAB ELECTIONS—MUST of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN OF NEW JERSEY PUT INTERESTS OF SIKH NATION FIRST— Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran KHALISTAN IS THE ONLY SOLUTION Singh Ghotna murdered him. He was never IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, DC., FEB. 28, 2007.—The punished for this crime. Thursday, March 1, 2007 Shlromani Akali Dal, under the leadership of In 1994, the U.S. State Department re- Parkash Singh Badal, won the state elec- ported that the Indian government had paid Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Speaker, I tions for the Punjab Legislative Assembly, over 41,000 cash bounties for killing Sikhs. A rise today to honor the Riverdale Volunteer winning 48 of 117 seats to 44 for the Congress report by the Movement Against State Re- Fire Department in the borough of Riverdale, party, 19 for the Bharatiya Janata Party, 5 pression (MASR) quotes the Punjab Civil Morris County, New Jersey, a vibrant commu- Independents. and one seat still to be elect- Magistracy as writing ‘‘if we add up the fig- nity I am proud to represent. On February 25,

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