Gazsi

My point was the the India lobby has, as its business, the advancement of Indian interests in the United States. And it seems they have been silent on Sekhon.

Yes, I agree. but at the same time anyone who is still stuck on the idea of Khalistan is hard to take seriously. It definitely suggests a certain disconnect with reality.

But it goes beyond the credibility of his separatism – he will likely vote down anything deemed beneficial to India. Take, OTOH, Jindal. He routinely gets labelled a “sell out” because of his conversion, but his track record on India has been quite good.

Yes, I agree. but at the same time anyone who is still stuck on the idea of Khalistan is hard to take seriously. It definitely suggests a certain disconnect with reality.

Noting that his first name means “invincible lion” in his native Indian language, Sekhon declared himself the best qualified candidate by virtue of his having graduated from medical school, law school and a military college. He has pointed out during the campaign that Herger did not graduate from college.

Spoken like a true uncle ji. Read more rhetoric here and here.

Yes, Yes, Yes, definitely this is a election for, and by America. But do you elect loose-canons who declare nations (like India) who in the process of strategic (nuclear) relationship (which even bypasses NPT) with US of A declared hostile.

Have you heard someone calling Israel an “hostile state” and getting elected. Israel lobby will toast it royally? Have you, I am being serious. Do you know how much strategic importance Joe Libermann, Barbara Boxer and dozens, dozens of others Senators and Congressman show for Israel?

There is more to this election than how it will impact India.

In which case his candidacy, if successful, is harmful to the growing India-US relationship and an insult to those of us who assert the Indian-American identity. But probably because of the large body of Khalistan-sympathetic Sikhs in his district, Herger has been no better for India. He signed a letter calling India a “hostile state” in 2000, thanks to the Khalistani lobby.

Determination for Khalistan, Human Rights, Release of Political Prisoners WASHINGTON, D.C., September 13, 2000 A bipartisan group of 17 Members of the U.S. Congress have written a letter to President Clinton urging him to press Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who arrives for a state visit today, on issues of self-determination for Khalistan, human rights, and release of political prisoners. The letter called India “a hostile country.” “We call on you to press Prime Minister Vajpayee on the issues of human rights and self-determination for Khalistan, Christian Nagalim, Kashmir, and all the minority nations and peoples living under Indian rule,” the Members of Congress wrote. Link

I have no idea about Herger’s stance on the India-US Nuclear deal, or whether he’s tempered his Khalistani sympathies since 2000. That the India lobby didn’t publicize this surprises me. Merely ommiting endorsement seems like a half-assed action.

do you actually think whatever a first term congressmans’ religious convictions are that it will somehow manifest itself into legislation? i think if religious fundamentalism held that sort of sway in lawmaking, the “rapture index” would be government santioned like our dear homeland security alerts.

who are you people? do you even consider the tangible, real, critical issues before you float through imaginary scenarios?

3000 dead americans. 600,000 dead iraqis, the trillions of wasted capital, the patriot act, katrina, and ALL THE BULLSHIT OF THE LAST SIX YEARS- THAT IS WHAT THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT.

it is about impeachment, it is about imprisonment, it is about identifying and punishing the guilty, it is about restoration and redemption.

it is about America becoming America again. We have to first regain our soul, and that will happen only when George W Bush is brought to justice for his crimes.

jp

Col. Sekhon is listed among the seminar speakers “on the need to liberate Khalistan, the Sikh homeland, from Indian occupation” held in August 2006. (See URL provided by I Know this Guy in post #6.) Unless he was there representing the honorable opposition, Col. Sekhon’s support of Khalistan seems as fresh as the produce at Chez Panisse.

They well may have. I hadn’t seen him on lists of “Indian Americans running for office” even though he’s running for Congress, and they’re happy to showcase candidates for state senate.

In any case, I don’t know if those sympathies are past or present. There are a lot of Sikhs who were sympathetic to separation during the height of the human rights violations in Punjab.