Celebrating India's Independence Day

CELEBRATING INDIA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY -- (House of Representatives - July 22, 2004)

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I offer my warmest congratulation, to the people of India and the Indian Diaspora as we approach India's Independence Day on August 15.

On that day in 1947, India marched forward into a future of uncertainty. With a struggling economy and high illiteracy and poverty rates, many challenges lay in India's path. Now many of these challenges have been overcome and greater economic opportunities have been created every day for the people of India.

More importantly, India is our ally and a democratic friend. America is the world's oldest democracy and India is the world's largest democracy. We are increasing bilateral trade and increasing military ties through military exercises. We face the same threat from joint terrorists who are targeting innocent civilians unable to defend themselves. Terrorists attacked an Indian airlines plane in 1999 and stabbed an Indian passenger to death, and this same network of terrorists have beheaded innocent people who have tried to help the people of the Middle East. This shows we are allies in the global war on terror and we must work together to eradicate this menace to civilization.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops and we will never forget September 11.