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Gurudwara attack: American Sikhs angry at protests against US in India

The Sikhs in US are angry over burning of American flags or demonstrations against US by a some protestors in India and ...

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Aug 9, 2012

The Sikhs in US are angry over burning of American flags or demonstrations against US by a some protestors in India and the common refrain among them is that these "protests" were rather cause problems to them in the country which has stood behind them after this attack on gurudwara.

..."You can't blame a nation for the handowork of a lunatic and not even the government of US when the entire might of the state machinery has stood behind us. A police officer risked his life, they eliminated the attacker immediately and that the US government took every step to the bottom of the issue," held Bahadur Singh, President of Sikh Temple Salem, while speaking to TOI from US. "It is better that these professional protestors protest against Indian authorities who have been denying justice to Sikhs for the last 28 years after massacre of Sikhs in Delhi," he said 

..."While these appear to be tiny groups especially the one led by Paramjit Singh Pamma of National Akali Dal in Delhi having very few Sikhs with him we are also surprised that Shromani Akali Dal, the political party in Punjab who supposedly looks after the issues of the Sikhs, hasnothing to say against outrageous theatrical acts of these goons,' he said while also advising the media in India to act with restrain and to at least check the credentials of such fellow who turn up for media attention only.. 

Source: India Times

 

'Why are these stupids in India burning the US flag?'

[Dr. Rajwant] Singh said, "These guys brandishing swords and burning the US flag, it is absolutely outrageous."

"Here the whole nation is flying the flag at half-mast in honour of the victims and these stupid guys are burning the US flag and raising slogans against America -- it is simply ridiculous and outrageous," he said, and added, "It is totally counterproductive to what we are trying to portray here."

Singh said, "We are trying to show that we are a community of peace and equality and outreach and welcoming to all other faiths and religions and these stupid idiots with their swords and burning of the US flag are portraying Sikhs are some frenzied radicals."

Source: Rediff News

 

Sikh rights body strongly condemn flag burners

New York (August 8, 2012): Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a human rights advocacy group which is spearheading a US wide campaign against religious intolerance that resulted in the killing of six Sikhs during a shootout at Wisconsin Sikh temple took a strong exception to the burning of American flag by members of National Akali Dal in New Delhi.

SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun stated that it is unfortunate that members of National Akali Dal have burnt the American flag in Delhi as this sends a wrong signal to the US government which is taking every measure to safeguard the interests of the Sikh community after the Sikh massacre. As the attack on Wisconsin Sikh temple suggests, “there are already Anti-Sikh sentiments budding in some quarters of American Society and the action of burning American flag by National Akali Dal will only fuel such more sentiments against the Sikhs, a religious minority” added attorney Pannun.

In an organized move to raise religious awareness amongst the American community, Sikh Rights Group, SFJ has been joined by American Gurudwara Prabhandhik Committee (AGPC), Sikh Youth of America (SYA) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) along with management committees of various Sikh temples across North America.

 

Letter to Lt. Brian Murphy

Dear Lieutenant Murphy:
 
On behalf of the 28 million strong Sikh Nation and over 700,000 Sikhs in the United States, I am writing to thank you for your courage in trying to stop the murders at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin.  Your bravery undoubtedly prevented the massacre from being even more horrific than it was.
 
Sikhs and Irishmen are much alike.  We are both brave fighters who stand up for what is right.  The stand you took was very much appreciated by the Sikh Nation.
 
We are offended by the Indian government’s criticism of our country, blaming alleged “failed policies and a growing trend of violent incidents against religious minorities” for the massacre.  It is not the policy of this country that gave rise to it; this terrible act is the act of one disturbed individual.  We look forward to the day when events like this massacre in Milwaukee, the burning of a mosque in Missouri, and the movie theatre murders in Colorado will no longer happen.  To blame America for the violence, especially given India’s record, is outrageous.
 
We are also disturbed by the burning of the American flag outside the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.  This act should offend all Americans.  This act creates a very bad impression of Sikhs.  Either the persons who did that are very stupid or they are agents of the Indian government, which has killed Sikhs and other minorities by the tens of thousands.
 
Former Member of Parliament Simranjit Singh Mann reports that more than a million Sikhs have been murdered by the Indian regime since 1982. The Indian government has murdered more than 300,000 Christians since 1948, almost 100,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims in Gujarat, and tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Manipuris, Tamils, Dalits, and others.  The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs "worse than a genocide."    The Movement Against State Repression (MASR) states that 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in India without charge or trial.  In addition, a report by Amnesty International states that “tens of thousands” of minorities are being held as political prisoners.
 
In the wake of these terrible events, we grieve together and pray for each other.  Thank you again for your courage.
 
Sincerely,
Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh
President
Council of Khalistan

 

6 of 13: Indian Sikhs shout slogans in front of the U.S. Consulate during a protest in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 to condemn Sunday's shooting at a Sikh temple in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday that he was shocked and saddened by the shooting attack that killed six people. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) (AP Photo/ Mahesh Kumar A)

Image and caption courtesy of ABC 7

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