WASHINGTON DC: In a well-timed move 38 bipartisan members Of Congress have written to President Clinton asking him to raise the denial of the right to self-determination in the Sikh homeland Punjab Khalistan during his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister. The letter issue to Trouble Indian authorities as they scramble to make the best of Rao’s maiden visit to the U.S
Today the U.S. Congress had told Rao that he cannot dodge the issue of Khalistanis freedom said Dr.Gurmit Singh Aulakh of the Council of Khalistan. He cannot sidestep the genocide of the Sikh nation He was the blood of the Sikh nation on his hands. Like the ex-President of Austria Kurt Waldheim Rao should be declared persona non grata. Indeed during the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms after the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi it was Rao who was Indian Home Minister or the Minister in charge of law and order Sikhs the world over blame Rao who refused to ask the Indian army to quell the pogroms for three days for the murder of 20,000 Sikhs in New Delhi alone.
Initiated by Congressman Gary Condit (D-CA) today’s leer has wide bipartisan and influential support including that of House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ronald Dellums (D-CA) House Foreign Affairs Committee member Dan Burton (RIN) and Neil Abercrombie (DHI) who said during House floor debate last year what is going on. .in the Punjab is a s in against God. It is a sin against humanity.
Concerning U.S. aid to India the letter warns that because of increased Indian abuses U.S. aid to India ‘should not continue. Today’s letter ensures that India’s ill-treatment of the Sikh nation remains a sticking point in US-Indo relations the letter notes that Amnesty International has been barred from investigating him an rights violations in the Sikh homeland since 1978.
Furthermore in light of Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s visit to US. 42 members of Congress have written to Indian Ambassador SS Ray about’ mounting tensions in the Sikhi homeland Punjab Khalistan Initiated by House Foreign Affairs Committee member Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) this letter has wide bipartisan and influential support including what of House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ronald Dellums (D-CA) and House Foreign Affairs Committees members Ileana Ros- Lehtinon Lincoln Diaz~ Balart David Levy and Dan Burton.
Of import the letter appreciates this year’s unusually indicting State Department Report on Human Rights in India which cites the Punjab Chief Minister as stating that his government awarded over41000cashbounties for the murder of Sikh militants between 1991 and 1993. It also cites the case of Khalistan ideologue Kanwar Singh Dhami whose pregnant wife lost her child as a result of Indian police torture On December 27,1993 in his now famous ‘Sikh rights’ letter President Clinton stated that human rights abuses still occur in the Sikh homeland. In late March before a Hours Appropriations Committee panel Secretary of State Warren Christopher identified Indian human rights problems with respect the Kashmir and Punjab. Finally last week House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Representative Lee Hamilton noted that Indian security forces have been ruthless in suppressing the insurgency and ‘questioned the state of peace in the Sikh homeland.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 20, 1994
