IN MEMORY OF DR. GURCHARAN SINGH,
HUMANITARIAN AND FREEDOM ACTIVIST
(Extensions of Remarks - April 17, 2007)

HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I was distressed to learn that Dr. Gurcharan Singh, a Sikh scholar from Long lsland, was killed March 31 in a hit-and-run traffic accident. Professor Singh was on his way to the Gurdwara (the Sikh place of worship) at the time. The driver has not yet been found.

Professor Singh was a professor at Marymount Manhattan College and a leader In the Sikh community in New York. He was a father and grandfather. According to WNBC-TV, he was "a counselor to New York's Sikh community and a philanthropist devoted to bringing people of different faiths and nationalities together.'' He was also an activist in support of Sikh freedom, serving as an advisor to the Council of Khalistan, which leads the effort to free the Sikh homeland, Khalistan, from Indian occupation. In that capacity, he would accompany the Council's President, Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, when he would go to the U.N. Human Rights Commission.

Prior to teaching at Marymount, Dr. Singh had been a professor at Columbia University. He taught political science and international studies.

The Council of Khalistan issued a press release about Dr. Singh's passing. It was also reported on WNBC Channel 4 in New York, on Yahoo News, on several Sikh and South Asian news outlets, and around the Internet.

On behalf of all my colleagues, I wish to extend the sympathies of the U.S. Congress to Dr. Singh's family, friends, and students. I'm sure that everyone joins me in this. I know that he will leave a void that will be very difficult to fill.

Madam Speaker, the best tribute we could pay to Dr. Singh is to continue his work, as Dr. Aulakh points out. This Congress can help by stopping aid to India and trade with that country until all people there enjoy human rights and by going on record in support of self-determination for Dr. Singh's Sikh Nation and for the Nagas, Kashmiris, and all the people seeking freedom in India. Self-determination is the essence of democracy.

PLAINVIEW SCHOLAR, LEADER MOURNED AFTER HIT-AND-RUN DEATH
Gurcharan Singh, 77, Taught at Columbia, Marymount Manhattan College

PLAINVIEW, N.Y.--A family and a community were mourning Saturday night the death of beloved professor and role model killed by a hit-and-run driver on Long Island, NewsChannel 4's Aimee Nuzzo reported.

Gurcharan Singh, 77, a scholar and a professor, was also a counselor to New York's Sikh community and a philanthropist devoted to bringing people of different faiths and nationalities together, according to family and friends.

"He is the gem of our community,'' said friend Paul Kandhari. "If there was a family problem, he'll be there. If the father and son have a problem, he'll be there.''
The Plainview father of three and grandfather was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while walking from his home to church Friday night.

Dr. Singh was crossing Old Country Road in Plainview just after 8 p.m. headed for the Sikh temple, when a red or maroon car traveling westbound ran a red light, struck him and kept going, police told Nuzzo.

Singh was airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center with multiple fractures and head trauma, but he did not survive.

"My father was a very selfless man who served his community and society with all his heart, and we'd really love any assistance in finding the individual who did this,'' said Surinder Singh, the victim's son.

Anyone with information about the mishap was asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

Once a professor at Columbia University, Singh taught political science and international studies at Marymount Manhattan College for more than three decades and continued to teach part-time, Nuzzo said.

A statement from Marymount Manhattan College said the "community is deeply saddened by the news of Professor Singh's death. He served as a devoted teacher at the college for many years, and his loss will be felt by all of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.'' Dr. Singh's friends said they have no doubt the selfless humanitarian would have forgiven the hit-and-run driver who took his life. They said they hoped that would help whoever is responsible to come forward.

DR. GURCHARAN SINGH, ADVISOR TO COUNCIL OF KHALISTAN,
KILLED IN HIT-AND-RUN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
Leading Sikh Scholar, Teacher, Humanitarian

WASHINGTON, DC, Apr. 4, 2007--Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, today expressed "deepest sympathies'' to the family and friends of Professor Gurcharan Singh, a leading Sikh scholar and a teacher at Marymount Manhattan College. Professor Gurcharan Singh was killed by a hit-and-run driver about 8:00 p.m. on the evening of March 31 as he was heading to the Gurdwara.

"Professor Gurcharan Singh leaves a vacuum that will be hard to fill, not only within the Sikh community and Nassau County, but for his family, friends, students, and the many whose lives he touched,'' said Dr. Aulakh, "He will be greatly missed. I am proud that he was my friend.''

"Only God gives life and takes life. As human beings, we are helpless. `Ghale Aawe Nanka Sadhe Uthin Jai.' We can only mourn his loss but the best tribute to Dr. Gurcharan Singh will be to continue his mission which he worked for, that is serving humanity and working hard to liberate Khalistan from Indian occupation. Only in a free Khalistan will the Sikh religion flourish and the Sikh Nation prosper.''

Professor Gurcharan Singh was well known as a humanitarian on Long Island. "My father was a very selfless man who served his community and society with all his heart,'' said his son Surinder Singh, He served as a counselor to the New York Sikh community and was a philanthropist.

Professor Gurcharan Singh was also a strong supporter of Khalistan, the independent Sikh homeland that declared its independence from India on October 7, 1987. In that effort, he served as an advisor to the President of the Council of Khalistan, which leads the peaceful, democratic, nonviolent effort to liberate Khalistan. He accompanied Dr. Aulakh whenever he went to talk to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

His death was reported on WNBC-TV New York and on its website; on Indo-Asian News Service; on Sikh media outlets; on a variety of websites; and on other media outlets.
"Professor Gurcharan Singh's passing is a loss to the Sikh Nation, to the people of Long Island and America, to his family and friends, and to friends of freedom,'' said Dr. Aulakh. "May God bless this departed soul.''

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This material is circulated by the Council of Khalistan, which is registered with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, DC under the Foreign Agents Registration Act as an agent of the Council of Khalistan, Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab.
The material is filed with the DOJ where the required registration is available for inspection. Registration does not indicate approval of the contents by the U.S. Government.