FRESNOCA: Local Sikh community gathered Sunday Oct.25 at Ramada Inn to honor Congressman Cal Dooley of California. The Dinner was organized by Dr.Harcharan Singh Chann Dr.Mohinder S.Punia Dr.Ujjagar S.Dhillon and Gill Insurance Agency among others. Cal Dooley was taken on a tour of local Gurudwaras and had a lunch with Dr.Chann and other respected Sikhs where the history and the current situation of Sikhs at the hands of the Indian government was explained. Dr.Punia made Dooley aware of “Who are the Sikhs” and what type of role they play in America. He stated that Punjab is the bread basket of India producing 70% of the gross product of India. Sikhs have been successful farmers businessmen Drs and soldiers of India and have been called super Indians by many historians Dr.Punia also stressed on the issue that Sikhs are struggling for freedom of religion and basic human rights in so-called the world’s biggest Democracy.

Dooley was made aware of the current situation of Sikhs in India with a statement that the Hindu government is using the concept of “guilty until proven innocent” against the Sikhs Dr.Punia called India the largest hyprocracy rather than Democracy.

Congressman Calvin Dooley said thanked Dr.Chann and others for giving information on Sikhs of the Valley and Punjab. Dooley said he will work with his colleagues to adopt resolutions against India and make them look into the problems of Sikhs in India specifically Punjab He said that violation of human rights is into learnable in India and respected congressman Burton Fazio and Wally Herger for introducing and getting the “bill passed in Congress to cut aid to India. Dooley stated if we educate our congressman and senators in Washington D.C. well have strong victory against India. A ten minute Documentary on Sikhs of Yuba City area Sikhs was shown to Dooley and his secretary.

Dooley said many people aren’t aware of these types of situations we have to provide information so the action can be taken. Dooley was told that India recently bought a torture machine from Israel to torture Sikhs and Kashmiris Dooley said he was not aware of many of the situations about India but would work with Amnesty International to become aware of the situations and lobby against them.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 6, 1992