Washington D.C: Congressman Dan Burton, 4 champion of Human Rights on April 29, greeted the Sikh Nation in the House of Representatives raising his voice to espouse the cause of the World Sikh community. Saying, “I rise today to recognize April 13thas the birthday of the Sikh nation and Sikh faith, it was this day. 294 years ago in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the to Sikh Gurus baptized the people of Sikh faith forming the consecrated body of the Khalsa Panth.”
He stated, that the creation of the Khalsa was 4 great event in modem human history because the Sikh religion is founded on principles of individual human rights and civil liberties regardless of race, creed or sex, “The equality of all human kind is an essential tenet of Sikhism, a principle which in our world today is sadly ignored.” He called upon the world to heed the words of Guru Gobind Singh who said, “Recognize ye the entire human race as one.”
Insidious Campaign: The Congressman regretted that the Indian government did not respect the principles of equality and dignity of the human race and had launched a campaign of ethnic cleansing in the Sikh homeland which leftover 110,000Sikhsdead since 1984, “Between 20 to 30
Sikhs are killed every day in extrajudicial killings.” He said, “As 1 speaks over 38,000 Sikhs languish in Indian prisons.
He gave the circumstances under which the Sikh nation was forced to declare itself independent of India, On Oct.7, 1987 they formed the separate country of Khalistan. On Jan.24, 1993, the Khalistan flag was hoisted at The Hague and it admitted as a full member of the UNPO.
This was a dangerous move for the Indian government, as the Sikhs now had a legitimate forum on the international stage to voice their grievances against India, The largest democracy in the world finds it necessary to hide its mis deeds from the eyes of the world and for this reason it has not permitted Amnesty International to visit Punjab for over 14 years. ‘The Congressman lashed out at the Indian government for its oppression of the Sikhs and asked, “Is a Sikh life worth less than others, is a person less dead when gunned down by the guns of Indian paramilitary forces?” He appealed to his fellow members of Congress, the American people and the entire world community 10 “stand up and tell the Indian government that the oppression of Sikh Nation is 100% unacceptable and should cease immediately.”
He accused the Indian govern He accused the Indian government of showing a profound lack of respect for Sikh life and culture. Citing the example of Gurdey Singh Kaonke, Jathedar Akal Takht who was killed by. The Indian forces on Dec.20, 1992, he said “the high priest of Sikh faith was arrested by Indian police, tortured and killed. Police claim he had escaped during custody.” find it deeply disturbing that the Indian Government can kill the foremost religious leader of the Sikh nation without hardly a voice in the international community being raised in protest.”
Congressman Dan Burton called upon his fellow congressmen to rise up and denounce the Indian government for its oppression of the Sikhs.
He urged them, in honor of the Vaisakhi day and in honor of freedom, justice and human rights 10 pass the ‘Justice in India Act’ which he had recently introduced in the Congress, He said “on this 294th birthday of the Khalsa Panth, 1 regard the brave Sikh nation with profound respect and pride for what they have contributed to the human race.”
The Congressman who is an acknowledged friend of the Sikhs and a relentless fighter for human rights addressing a full house dramatically announced, “I am confident that by 1999, the 300th birthday of the Khalsa Panth, the Sikh flag will fly proudly over the Sovereign, independent soil of a peaceful and prosperous Khalistan.”
Article extracted from this publication >> May 7, 1993
