YUBA CITY,CA: Over 500 people shouted in agreement when Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich said “We’re working on the Tax Code and the possibility of getting rid of the L.R.S.”

Last weekend, Yuba City Sikhs were the impetus behind a fundraiser that saw a US, Speaker visit this part of Northern California for the first time in history. School children and local dignitaries warmly greeted the Republican Congressional contingent of Wally Herger and John Doolittle while ‘outside the Bonaza inn a small group of others loudly protested the authors Pearhe Contract With America’ The visit of the man many believe should be the next U.S. President was a significant event in the city known as “Little Punjab.” Organized by World Sikh Organization President, Didar Singh Bains, the occasion was liended by people from all over North America including a large number of Canadians and people from the act Coast of the U.S.

Congressman Wally Herger, 4 longtime friend and ally of the Sikhs gave a brief history of Operation Bluestar, the infamous event of June 6, 1984 that has served to galvanize the Sikh Community behind the issues of Human Rights for minorities and stopping aid to India. Congressman John Doolittle, another stalwart ally of California’s Sikhs and farmers and ranchers particularly, introduced the Speaker as an agent for change and as the head of the Republican party, which for the first time in 40 years, has control of the US Congress. Mr. Gingrich, for his part, was Preaching to the choir when he addressed such issues as Tax reform, hard work and Human Rights quoting from the Constitution he ‘emphasized that the “Pursuit of Happiness” guaranteed in the Bill of Rights was not a promise or gift of happiness but that it embodies the *right to work, achieve and have a good life as a human being’. “You deserve a better future but not by rigging the game through politicians, but by learning and studying” he told the enthusiastic crowd, “and those are the kind of people I’m meeting and seeing here.”

Gingrich touched briefly on the all-important issue of Human Rights saying that India was no different than anywhere else in the world and that people should not have to live in fear because of their beliefs “We are not applying some standard to someone else that we don’t have ourselves” telling the crowded hall that even the U.S. was casting a spotlight on recent

events concerning our own citizens, with hearings in the Branch Dravidian, ‘Waco tragedy and the Ruby Ridge confrontation that left several members of the same family dead after a standoff with federal agents. Explaining the role of Congress in foreign affairs though, he said “Under our Constitution, the Congress does not negotiate; it is the Secretary of State on behalf of the President, and on behalf of the entire government. We’re not going to send Ambassador Herger or Ambassador Doolittle,.. but we are going to represent your concerns and. we are going to communicate to our government and to the government in: India that we recognize the things that happen that are not acceptable,” He closed with thanks to Northern Californian’s Republicans, the hospitality of Yuba City, and especially the Bains family.

In the end Mr, Bains introduced everybody in the room and thanked all the participants, Several speakers discussed the Sikh issues of concer, for example, the Human Rights situation in India and Punjab. The main theme of W.S.O. was that Sikhs need sovereign Sikh state (Khalistan) and this ‘was an effort to seek more support for the God given right of Sikhs. This event has raised the discussion of Sikh problems to yet a higher level.

The Sikhs of Yuba city, especially WSO members and the Bains family are to be congratulated for participation and organization of this historical event.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 28, 1995