Will help resolve Sikh identity issues, US envoy assures SGPC
AMRITSAR: Reacting to hate crime incidents being faced by Sikhs in the United States, officiating US ambassador Marykay L Carlson on Sunday assured the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) that she will become a bridge to prevent such incidents caused by “mistaken identity” problem.
Carlson, deputy chief of mission (US embassy), earlier visited the Golden Temple where the SGPC officials offered her warm welcome.
Besides paying obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum, she also visited langar (community kitchen).
Later, SGPC general secretary Amarjit Singh Chawla and other members of the gurdwara body interacted with her and raised the issues being faced by Sikhs in the US.
Carlson said the Sikhs should be glad that the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev was celebrated at the White House.
“As far as the attack on Sikhs under the mistaken identity problem and other issues like ban on Sikh articles, including turban (are concerned), I will become a bridge between the SGPC and US government,” she added.
However, the SGPC did not give her any written memorandum in this regard.
In the visitors’ book, Carlson wrote that she is very much impressed by the Golden Temple and Sikh ethos. She was honoured by SGPC officials with a siropa (robe of honour) and a set of books.
In the wake of growing Islamic terror attacks across the world, many Sikhs have been becoming victims of hate in western countries, including the United States, due to mistaken identity. Turban and beard of Sikhs make the natives of these countries mistake them to be the Muslims of the middle east countries.
The SGPC had published a booklet in many languages to deal with this issue last year.
THAT THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF GURU NANAK WAS CELEBRATED AT THE WHITE HOUSE, SHE SAID SIKHS SHOULD BE GLAD