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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 512 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 512

Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the first national elections in the 
Republic of India and commending the Government and people of India for 
       maintaining a commitment to democracy for half a century.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 16, 2002

Mr. Brown of Ohio (for himself and Mr. Pallone) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the first national elections in the 
Republic of India and commending the Government and people of India for 
       maintaining a commitment to democracy for half a century.

Whereas in February 1952 the Republic of India held its first general elections 
        for Parliament;
Whereas 4\1/2\ years earlier, in August 1947, India achieved independence 
        through largely nonviolent resistance after centuries of living under 
        colonial rule;
Whereas in January 1950 India adopted a constitution, with many provisions 
        influenced and inspired by the work of the Founding Fathers of the 
        United States;
Whereas among the rights and freedoms provided to the people of India under the 
        constitution is universal suffrage for all men and women over the age of 
        18;
Whereas with more than 1,000,000,000 people, India is the world's largest 
        democracy;
Whereas in the half-century since its first elections, India has on a regular 
        basis held elections for governments at the local, regional, and 
        national levels;
Whereas elections in India provide voters with a choice between thousands of 
        candidates representing a vast array of political parties without 
        limitations or restrictions on participation;
Whereas the election process in India is controlled by an independent elections 
        commission that ensures that elections are held in a free and fair 
        manner;
Whereas the Department of State and a wide range of international organizations 
        have regularly determined the elections in India to be free and fair;
Whereas India's most recent national parliamentary elections in 1999 attracted 
        more than 600,000,000 voters;
Whereas in February 2002, on the 50th anniversary of India's first national 
        elections, voters went to the polls to elect members of the state 
        assemblies in four of India's states, Manipur, Punjab, Uttaranchal, and 
        Uttar Pradesh; and
Whereas despite the ongoing threat of terrorism from outside forces, India moved 
        forward with state assembly elections in the State of Jammu and Kashmir 
        and completed the election process in a free and fair manner: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) commends the Government and people of the Republic of 
        India for a 50-year tradition of free and fair elections and 
        the orderly transfer of political power; and
            (2) reiterates its support for continued close ties between 
        the United States and India in the full range of issues, and, 
        particularly, in joint efforts to promote democracy around the 
        world.
                                 <all>
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