[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E432-E433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

NEW PUNJAB CHIEF MINISTER URGED TO WORK FOR SIKH SOVEREIGNTY

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HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

of new york

in the house of representatives

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, recently elections were held in Punjab. The
voters turned out the Congress Party government and restored the
Shiromani Akali Dal to power. This means that Parkash Singh Badal
returns as Chief Minister.
The Congress Party claims to be secular, but the fact is that it
presided over the massacre of Sikhs that took the lives of over a
quarter of a million Sikhs. It was the party that carried out the
military attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the center and seat
of the Sikh religion. On the other hand, the Akali Dal has historically
been the pro-Sikh party. However, during the tenure of Chief Minister
Amarinder Singh, Punjab did reclaim its water rights and cancel the
agreements that allowed diversion of that water to other states. The
bill implementing the cancellation explicitly declared the sovereignty
of Punjab.
As you know, Madam Speaker, Punjab, Khalistan declared its
independence on October 7, 1987.
Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, has
written to Chief Minister Badal urging him to keep his campaign
promises of a better economic life for Punjab fanners, of clean
government, and to reclaim the capital city of Chandigarh for Punjab.
He also urged Mr. Badal to declare again the independence of Punjab,
Khalistan and to work for a free and fair vote.
The essence of democracy is the right to self-determination. As such,
a free and fair vote on the issue of independence is called for if
India still wishes to be looked upon as the democracy it claims to be.
The Indian government is sending out its sycophants to spin the Punjab
elections as having ``debunked'' the Khalistan movement, but in fact,
quite the opposite is the truth of the matter.
I call on this Congress to stand up for freedom and join in urging
the Punjab Legislative Assembly to declare independence again, and to
urge India to allow a free and fair plebiscite on the matter of
independence for Khalistan, for the Christians of Nagaland, and for
Kaslunir, as promised in 1948, as well as all others who seek their
freedom. I also call for a stop to American aid and trade with India
until basic human lights are respected and everyone there is allowed to
live in freedom, dignity, prosperity, and security.
Madam Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's
letter to Chief Minister Badal into the Record at this time with the
permission of the House.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC, February 28, 2007.
Hon. Paraksh Singh Badal,
Chief Minister of Punjab, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.
Dear Chief Minister Badal: Congratulations on your victory
in the Punjab elections and your return as Chief Minister.
You promised the return of clean government to Punjab. That
would be a welcome relief for the people of Punjab. You also
promised free electricity and Rs4 per kilo for wheat flour
and Rs20 per kilo for lentils for the poor. We

[[Page E433]]

welcome these promises and urge you to implement them as soon
as possible.
I call upon you to get Chandigarh back for Punjab. As you
know, Punjab built Chandigarh to be its capital and it
rightfully belongs to Punjab. It is time to get it back.
We also urge you to maintain. Captain Amarinder Singh's
water policy. His government cancelled the unfair agreements
that allowed the diversion of Punjab's water to nonriparian
states. In that bill, the Legislative Assembly explicitly
declared the sovereignty of Punjab. Unfortunately, the
Congress Party, which presided over the massacre of Sikhs, is
an anti-Sikh party. The Akali Dal has historically been the
pro-Sikh party. Yours is the party that called on the Sikh
Nation to prepare ourselves for ``the long struggle to
liberate Khalistan.'' You are presiding over a Sikh political
and religious institution that controls the gurdwaras in
Punjab. Remember that Professor Darshan Singh, an Akali and
former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, has said, ``If a Sikh is
not for Khalistan, he is not a Sikh.''
Each morning and evening, we pray, ``Raj Kare Ga Khalsa,''
the Khalsa shall rule. Do you say this prayer sincerely? Wil1
Delhi let you implement the new price structure you promised?
They have done everything in their power to keep the Sikhs
oppressed, including imposing President's rule on Punjab nine
times. They have been responsible for the murders of a
quarter of a million Sikhs, according to figures compiled by
the Punjab State Magistracy and published in The Politics of
Genocide by Inderjit Singh Jaijee. The Movement Against State
Repression reports that over 52,000 Sikhs are being held as
political prisoners without charge or trial, some since 1984!
The late General Narinder Singh said that ``Punjab is a
police state.''
You have promised to end ``the dark and corrupt legacy of
despotic dictatorship.'' There is only one way to do so. That
is to declare the sovereign independence of Khalistan. The
Legislative Assembly can do this and should do it. This would
elevate you immediately from Chief Minister to Prime
Minister. Self-determination is the essence of democracy. Why
can't India do the democratic thing and allow the people of
Punjab, Khalistan to vote in a free and fair plebiscite on
the question of independence? What are they afraid of?
Again I congratulate you and urge you to work to end the
oppression of Sikhs and keep the interests of the Sikh Nation
foremost in your mind as you embark upon your term as Chief
Minister. I urge you to work to regain the sovereignty that
is our birthright.
Sincerely,
Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,
President, Council of Khalistan.

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