FRESNO, CA: Addressing a large congregation in Fresno, Congressman Richard Lehman said, “We know that over the last 10 years over 100,000 Sikhs have been murdered in India. We know that over 30 to 40 Sikhs are killed every day, not because they have committed any crime but only because they are Sikhs. Denial of human rights in India is not a matter of speculation; it’s a matter of fact.” India is a country where rights are being denied to the minorities and they are subjected to wide scale torture and made to live under draconian laws.
Congressman Richard H. Lehman of 19thdistrict was a guest of the congregation organized by the Sikh Association of Fresno at Dakota Avenue Gurdwara, lo commemorates the supreme sacrifices made by Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal and Bhai Gurdey Singh Kaonke who became matyr of the Sikh nation in the struggle for Khalistan. An Akhand path was held at the Gurdwara with the bhog ceremony on March 7.
Dr.Mohinder Singh Poonia, introduced congressman Richard Lehman to the congregation as a well-known advocate of Human Rights and a champion of the Sikh struggle for an independent nation, He said that more than 50,000 Sikhs of the Central Valley of California belonged to the hardest working community of the Indian subcontinent. He appreciated and thanked the Congressman for advocating the Sikh cause in the U.S. Congress, Dr.G.S. Aulakh of Council of Khalistan described the prevailing chaotic conditions in India and said Sikhs had been Cheated by the Hindu leaders at the time of partition in 1947, They Were now being discriminated Against economically and religiously, He attacked the Indian 8overnment’s oppression of Sikhs And its abuse of Human Rights in Punjab. He lashed out at India’s Ambassador to the US, SS.Ray whom he accused of the responsibility for getting killed thousands Of Sikhs while he was governor of Punjab. Ray deserved to be thrown Off of the sacred soul of the United States for his Nazi-like acts.
Congressman Richard Lehman said he was committed to the cause Of the Sikhs and understood what they faced. “Sikhs must be aware of the basic right to determine their own future.” India had a foreign policy based on expediency in which human rights were ignored, and kept in the back Sound. Sikhs suffered torture, mistreatment and oppression in Punjab and they were justly fighting for freedom which is the basic night of all men, with the end of the cold war and releasing of east west tension, he hoped the American govt. will be able to address itself to the issue of human fights as a prime factor. “I am hoping full that we can develop a foreign policy under the new President to help your aspirations together freedom that your people want “Stating that his family had migrated from Russia to the USA to escape persecution, he realized how the Sikhs must be feeling. He would continue to devote himself to fight for human rights and bring to the notice of the American legislature the plights of Sikhs in India. He appreciated the Sikhs in US. For maintaining their identity and culture which adds to the vitality and strength of this country. He then thanked the members of the congregation for calling him and promised that he would relentlessly continue the fight against Oppression and denial of human rights in Punjab.
Capt. Gurdial Singh Gill was the Secretary of stage, he thanked the congressman and the whole congregation for honoring the memory of the great Sikh matyrs Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal and Bhai Gurdev Singh Kaonke, Sardar Mohinder Singh Grewal, Jaswant Singh Bal, Gumam Singh Gill and Sarwan Singh paid glowing tributes to the great matyrs in beautifully composed poems, Later on Langar was served to ail present, Congressman Richard Lehman joined in for the Langar and enjoyed it.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 12, 1993
