Posted on 05/28/2007 9:51:42 PM PDT by TBP
Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I introduced a resolution calling for the United States to address the ongoing problem of untouchability in India . Last December Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recognized the similarities between untouchability in his country and Apartheid in South Africa. It is now time for this Congress, Mr. Speaker, to speak out about this ancient and particularly abhorrent form of persecution and segregation, even if it is occurring in a country many consider to be one of America's closest allies. This Congress must urge an end to the social discrimination and injustice faced by the nearly 250 million people known as Dalits and Tribals in India .
Although the Indian constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms for all Indians, the untouchables continue to face widespread social and caste injustices. Article 17 of the Constitution outlaws untouchability. However, despite numerous laws enacted for the protection and betterment of the Dalits and Tribals, they are still considered outcasts in Indian society and are treated as such.
At best, untouchability involves social segregation, including separate educational facilities and drinking water and restaurants. This is a sad and familiar tune to many of us familiar with the history of our own country. At worst, untouchability entails widespread violence against untouchable women, especially in the form of rape with impunity, being targeted for abortions, and comprises the majority of temple prostitute and women trafficked from India .
The untouchables are poor, Mr. Speaker. Their most basic needs are not fulfilled, and they face great difficulties in accessing employment, education, food, and health care. Most are among the poorest people on the face of the Earth, living on less than $1 per day. Moreover, Dalit women are often sold into bondage, prostitution, and there is an increasing religious persecution against the Dalits and untouchables who change their faith. In 2005, USAID stopped funding an organization after it was revealed that they were preventing many of these women from leaving prostitution. In a recent instance, a whole Dalit village was forced to leave their tribal land because they had converted to Christianity in a state that had laws against conversion.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a direct statement by the United States Congress that untouchability is an unacceptable practice on the part of America's largest trading partner and close ally. We appreciate that Prime Minister Singh and many others have recognized that this is a serious social problem that needs to be confronted, and we urge the rest of Indian society and American diplomats, aid workers, and businesses working in India to do the same and to work toward the eradication of casted discrimination in India .
This resolution encourages our government to work with India to find new approaches to an age-old problem. Moreover, Mr. Speaker, this resolution will ensure that we as a government and we as an American people in no way encourage or enforce caste discrimination and untouchability through our policies with India or through foreign aid or direct aid in any way.
And I urge my colleagues to join me in calling on the Indian government and the world community to look with compassion upon India's untouchables and reach out to one of the poorest and most oppressed peoples on the face of the Earth.
India had President (K. R. Narayanan) and Prime Minister (Deve Gowda) belonging to what was supposed to be “untouchable” casts. When was the last time US had a “non-Christian”, “non-white” .... or woman President?
So he's ignorant if he dares to disagree with you and your India Lobby pals, but protecting teh human rights and the freedom of oppresssed peoples is none of his business?
Of course it's his business. Or are you one of those people who thinks that some people aren't worthy of freedom?
Uttely beside the point.
but protecting teh human rights and freedom of oppressed peoples is none of his business?
Yeah, starting in AZ would be good. Probably district 2, even. (God knows we could use a little help and decent pols.)
Are you capable of one original thought not bought and paid for? Can you really not connect this with the trip sponsors and their crazy agenda?
I suggest you forward his resume to the FBI and it can take care of him. Probably send him to Gitmo where he can share his anti-India drivel with his jihadist Pakistani brothers.
US govt recently sentenced a person for providing material support to a khalistani group :
KHALID AWAN CONVICTED OF PROVIDING MATERIAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO INDIAN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
Defendant Funneled Money to the Khalistan Commando Force, a Sikh Separatist Terrorist Organization Responsible for Thousands of Deaths in India.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. —Following two weeks of trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn, N.Y., today returned a verdict convicting Khalid Awan of providing money and financial services to the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), a terrorist organization responsible for thousands of deaths in India since its founding in 1986. When sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles P. Sifton on March 7, 2007, Awan faces a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison.
The conviction was announced by U.S. Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf of the Eastern District of New York and FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Mark J. Mershon of the New York Field Office.
KCF was formed in 1986 and is comprised of Sikh militants who seek to establish a separate Sikh state in the Punjab region of India. The organization has engaged in numerous assassinations of prominent Indian government officials—including the murder of Chief Minister Beant Singh of Punjab in 1995-and hundreds of bombings, acts of sabotage and kidnapings.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force began the investigation in 2003 after an inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn—where Awan was incarcerated on federal credit card fraud charges—reported that Awan boasted of his relationship with Paramjit Singh Panjwar, the leader of the KCF and one of the 10 most wanted fugitives in India. The government's evidence at trial included recordings of Awan's prison telephone calls to Panjwar in Pakistan, in which Awan introduced the inmate as a potential recruit for the KCF; statements by Awan admitting that he sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to KCF; testimony by two New York-area fund raisers for the KCF who stated that they delivered money to Awan's residence in Garden City; and testimony by the Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab Police Intelligence Division that the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent victims in India.
"The war on terror is a global battle," stated U.S. Attorney Mauskopf. "We will not permit individuals in our jurisdiction to finance terrorist groups responsible for murder and violence in any part of the world." U.S. Attorney Mauskopf expressed her grateful appreciation to the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance in this case, and thanked the government of India and the Punjab Police Department for their cooperation.
"To succeed in the war on terror we and our partners around the world have to view support of terrorism anywhere as an affront to peace-loving people everywhere," stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Mershon. "The security of each of us depends on the determination of all of us to join forces in a truly global effort."
The government's case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly T. Currie and Lawrence P. Ferazani, Jr.
The argument was about Blacks being banned from the congress until the 70s? In India “a Dalit” Dr. B. R. Ambedker wrote the INDIAN CONSTITUTION in 1947 (a constitution under which EVERYONE regardless of race, religion, colour or cast had voting rights), almost 2 decades before the African Americans in US got voting rights/civil rights. Beat that!
This bum has political allies like Dan Burton, Dana Rohrabacher and Edolphus Towns members of the anti-India caucus.
LOL, that was my first thought. You beat me to it.
*shrug* Oy’m eeeeeeeevil, Oy am...
You really belive this, don't you? Did the Indian Embassy feed you that piece of disinformation?
The FACT is that there were balcks in Congress in the 19th century.
But don't let little things like facts get in the way of your anti-American propaganda efforts.
No, it makes mine. Sorry. Try again, and better luck next time.
You folks hvae yet to rebut even one of the statements Congressman Franks makes. Instead, you choose to spread disnformation and attack the messenger with smears.
Now, try addressing the issue for once.
Another piece of disinformation on your part. Blacks have been voting ever since the War Between the States. Try learning a little history before you spew your America hatred.
So what were the 60s race-related agitations all about, in that case?
The said congressman makes no new points evident. A yawn is all that it deserves, unless I saw some concrete steps he advises to take. If you did, please mention them, and I’ll get back.
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