Sikhs asserted that there is an urgent need for the community to initiate a campaign relating to the Sikh identity issue so that they are not mistaken as Arabs in the Western world.
By Ravinder Singh Robin Updated: Aug 6, 2012, 03:06 PM IST
The killing of innocent Sikh devotees in Wisconsin, United States, has shattered the morale of the community worldwide.
Sikhs are in a state of shock over the incident, and have expressed dismay over it.
While they appealed for peace and calm, they asserted that there is an urgent need for the community to initiate a campaign relating to the Sikh identity issue so that they are not mistaken as Arabs in the Western world, as has been the case post- 9/11.
Sikhs representative bodies, organisations, religious leaders and personalities have strongly condemned the incident.
The American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) has called an emergency meeting in San Francisco to take stock of the situation.
AGPC Coordinator Dr Pritpal Singh said they have appealed to the whole community to stay calm over the unsavoury incident.
“The AGPC is in touch with the US State Department and Congressmen, they have assured them about the safety and security of the community. We ask community members to hold prayers and do not resort to any protest, as the US authorities are trying their best to provide security to the community and their shrines,” said Dr Pritpal Singh.
The Sikh Coalition’s executive director of the coalition, Sapreet Kaur, said its thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the shooting and the Sikh community of Milwaukee, and the larger community of Wisconsin, which we know will stand with their Sikh neighbours.
The Bay Area Sikh Community stated in its release that the Sikhs are in a state of shock after learning about the Oak Creek Sikh gurudwara killings.
https://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-us-gurudwara-shooting-incident-shocks-sikhs-worldwide-1724565