SIKHS IN PUNJAB DEMAND INDEPENDENCE WHILE OBSERVING ANNIVERSARY OF GOLDEN TEMPLE MASSACRE
(Extensions of Remarks - June 23, 2006)

HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2006

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, June 3 through June 6 marked the anniversary of a very dark chapter in history, the Indian government's military invasion of the Golden Temple, the seat of the Sikh religion, in 1984. That atrocity was commemorated by Sikhs and others all over the world. There were demonstrations here in Washington and in many cities.

At the Golden Temple in Amritsar they had a ceremony to commemorate the occasion. The Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Vedanti, the highest Sikh religious leader, led the commemoration. During his remarks, he did not mention Saul Jamail Singh Bhindranwale, the leader of the Sikhs who was murdered at the Golden Temple, or General Shabeg Singh or any of the others who were murdered. This displeased the crowd.

The Sikhs in attendance, hundreds of them, chanted slogans of "Khalistan Zindabad,'' which means "Long live Khalistan,'' Khalistan is the Sikh homeland which declared itself independent from India on October 7, 1987. These chants show that the movement to liberate Khalistan is still alive in Punjab. Last year, there were speeches and flag-raisings on the Golden Temple anniversary. There were similar events this past January. Those events resulted in arrests and criminal complaints, even though the Indian courts have ruled that speaking out [or Khalistan is not a crime, In spite of these intimidation tactics, the Sikhs spoke out again for Khalistan.
Over 20,000 Sikhs were killed in the Golden Temple attack and the attacks on 37 other Gurdwaras around Punjab, known as Operation Bluestar. During Operation Bluestar, the Indian army shot bullet holes in the Sikh holy scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib. Young boys were taken outside and summarily shot. The Golden Temple itself was ransacked and severely damaged. Do these sound like the acts of a democracy?

If India were truly committed to democratic values, at the very least, the Indian government would issue a public apology to the Sikhs and pay compensation to the victims' families.
The Golden Temple attacks show that there is no place for Sikhs in India, and other minorities also feel the massive repression of "the world's largest democracy.'' More than a quarter of a million Sikhs have been killed and over 52,000 continue to be held as political prisoners. India has killed over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland and tens of thousands more in the rest of the country, as well as more than 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims, thousands more Muslims around India, and tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. For minority peoples and nations, India is one of the world's worst tyrannies. It is a democracy for the Brahmins and a police state for the minorities.

This is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker. I would like to express the sympathy of the Congress to the Sikh Nation for the Golden Temple massacre. In light of this atrocity and the ongoing atrocities of the Indian government, I wonder why the United States continues to fund such a country. The time has come, Mr. Speaker, to stop our aid and trade with India and to support self-determination for all peoples and nations in South Asia. This is the best way to bring about stability, peace, freedom, and prosperity in the subcontinent, to defuse the troubles there, and to make sure that every person's rights are protected.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to place a couple of very good articles on the chanting of Khalistan slogans at the Golden Temple into the RECORD for the information of my colleagues.[From the Tribune (Chandigarh), June 7, 2006]

RADICALS RAISE KHALISTAN SLOGANS
Tribune (Chandigarh), June 7, 2006

AMRITSAR, June 6.--Activists of various radical Sikh organizations raised slogans in favour of Khalistan on Ghallughara divas (genocide day) to mark the 22nd anniversary of Operation Bluestar in front of Akal Takht here today.

Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, president, SAD, distanced himself from it. As soon as Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann, president, SAD (A), came out from Akal Takht after participating in ardas, radicals started raising slogans for an independent Sikh state and showed pages containing statements in favour of Khalistan and posters displaying damaged Akal Takht in the military operation. However, Mr. Badal accused those who indulged in sloganeering of being agents of the Congress, which was responsible for the infamous Army operation. He said Mr. Mann was well aware that Punjab had to suffer greatly because of this.

Mr. Mann said though they were not allowed to continue their peaceful struggle to attain independence, they would contest the next elections democratically.

Commenting on the recent judgments and coverage in newspapers, he claimed that judges and the English media had also saffronised. He asked people to raise their hands if they wanted revival of Anandpur Sahib's resolution of 1973 and for severing of relations with the Congress and the BJP.

Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathcdar, Akal Takht, said the real tribute to those killed in the operation would be to protect the Sikh history and culture, and to stop apostasy and addiction among the Sikh youth.

He said the Sikh religion was formed to safeguard human ideal's of truth, righteousness and values. He added at for this reason it had to fight against rulers who forgot their duties towards the masses.

Among those present on the occasion were Mr. Avtar Singh, president, SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur, former SGPC president, and senior Akali leaders, including Mr. Gurdev Singh Badal, Mr. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Mr. Sucha Singh Langah, Mr. Bikramjit Singh Majithia and Mr. Guljar Singh Ranike.

##30##

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.