In historic first, Sikh elected to be attorney general of New Jersey

In a historic first, a distinguished Sikh public prosecutor "who has experienced hate and intolerance firsthand" has been nominated to be the next attorney general of the US state of New Jersey.If Gurbir S. Grewal's nomination by Democrat Governorelect Phil Murphy is approved by the State Senate early next year, he will be the first Sikh to assume the top state law enforcement position in the United States and the second IndianAmerican, after Kamala Harris, who held the position in California before her election to the US Senate. Announcing the nomination in the state capital, Trenton, on Tuesday, Murphy said: "In light of all that is being thrown at us by the president, we need an attorney general unafraid to join our fellow states in using the law to protect all New Jersey residents."

Grewal, 44, is the prosecutor of Bergen County, an important district across the river from New York city. He was appointed to by the current Republican Governor Chris Christie and that is likely to mute any opposition the senate.

Symbolic of the public acceptance of minorities despite scattered incidents of bigotry, two Sikhs were elected mayors last month, Ravi Bhalla in Hoboken, New Jersey, and Preet Didbal in Yuba City, California.

Vin Gopal, who became the first Indian-American to be elected to the New Jersey State Senate last month, said that Grewal is someone "not only eminently qualified, but who will bring a perspective to the office that is diverse and long-overdue."