Stop Dan Burton from succeeding Henry Hyde to Chairmanship of the powerful HIRC

USINPAC is saddened to learn that Representative Henry Hyde, R-Ill. and chairman of the House International Relations committee (HIRC), is contemplating retirement as reported by the Chicago-Sun Times on March 15, 2005. Representative Hyde has been an extraordinary chairman of the House International Relations Committee and a true friend of the Indian-American community both in Illinois and nationwide.

But now, Representative Dan Burton is trying to succeed Mr. Hyde to the Chairmanship. Fellow, Indian Americans, we must come together as a community to send a strong message to Mr. Burton that he is not qualified to serve as the Chair of one of the most important House Committees that has jurisdiction over foreign policy legislation Fellow Indian Americans, we must come together as a community to send a strong message to anti-India Congressman, Mr. Dan Burton that he is not qualified to serve as the Chair of one of the most important House Committees that oversees the foreign policy of the United States.

THE ISSUE
Mr. Burton's claim to fame has been his incendiary anti-India rhetoric and slanderous allegations against India. Over the last 16 years Dan Burton has made unsubstantiated charges against India more than 34 times as recorded in the Congressional Record. If not countered effectively, this will jeopardize the burgeoning strategic relationship between the world's two largest democracies - United States and India! Following are two typical remarks by Dan Burton as recorded by Congressional Record

"The Indian Government is one of the world's worst human rights abusers......Since 1947, India has killed over 200,000 Christians in Nagaland; 250,000 Sikhs in Punjab from 1984-1992; and 53,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988." - (HON. DAN BURTON in the House of Representatives Thursday, May 25, 1995 - Congressional Record Page: E1140)

"India also blames Pakistan for the attack on its parliament, even though India has a record of committing acts of terrorism in the guise of various minorities. India has also been guilty of terrorism against the minorities within its own borders." - (HON. DAN BURTON in the House of Representatives Tuesday, February 12, 2002 - Congressional Record Page: E113)

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
The question to ask then is what motivates Mr. Burton to do this year after year. The simple answer is that he receives much needed campaign contributions from anti-India sources that instigate him to such action, including extorting money from the Pakistani Embassy through its lobbyist and from sources of ill repute such as one Gurmit Singh Aulakh who has been barred from entering Congressional offices. Mr. Burton is well known for his many other breaches in ethics and poor judgment as a lawmaker. There are Washington watch dog groups that have petitioned Congress to investigate Mr. Burton on the following charges:
* Defrauding the Federal Government by Hiring a Ghost Employee
* Defrauding His Own Campaign Committee and Converted Campaign Funds to Personal Use by Hiring Ghost Employees
* Extorting Campaign Contributions
* Misused Congressional Funds, Offices, Resources and Staff for Campaign Purposes.