CARUTHERS: Mrs. Gayle Wilson, wife of California Governor Pete Wilson was the featured guest at a fundraiser for 25th district assembly hopeful Barbara Keating one Oct.6, at the lovely home of the Gill family.

Hostess and mistress of ceremonies, Bibi Joytan Gill, wife of Insurance executive Mr. Harinder Gill welcomed the guests and introduced the evening’s speakers. Including, besides Mrs. Wilson; Fresno DA, Ed Hunt, Congressional candidate, Dr. Harcharan Singh Chann, Dr. Mohinder Singh Poonia, and S. Didar Singh Bains.

Mrs. Gill touched on some of this election year’s hot topics in her opening remarks as she explained that the traditions of Sikh families was based on respect and support among generations. She also informed the audience that because of these tradition’s, regardless of their particular business, industrious Sikhs were among the best educated and least needy (in terms of welfare benefits) of all immigrants.

Dr. Chann explained the fundamentals of Sikhism, the symbolic meanings of the 5 K’s and how Sikhism differs from other religions practiced in India. Dr. Poonia furthered the discussion by offering an over view of the political situation in the Punjab, telling the crowd about the Human Rights violations, the continuing persecution of Sikhs and the Indian govt’s. record of repression of some of its most productive citizens. Yet, he told the American politicians, Sikhs living in the US owed their political support first to the US, second to California and then to others.

Mrs. Wilson, who thanked the guests for their support said that money for candidates was not enough, todays elections demand personal participation, She said she hoped that people would go Out and personally campaign for candidates such as Barbara Keating. Mrs. Wilson, echoing her husband’s rhetoric, spoke of the recent budget impasse and in typical political fashion, laid the blame on assembly democrats and Speaker Willie Brown who she said refused Compromise.

  1. Didar Singh Bains (WSO Int.) also thanked the attendees and informed them that California Assemblyman Chris Chandler planned to introduce a Bill next Assembly session that would have the California Legislature formally denounce the atrocities in the Punjab. “The bill deserves your Support,” he said.

After the informative presentation, a lovely dinner was served.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 16, 1992