American-Sikh group urges New York gurdwara to address heckling of Indian envoy Sandhu
American-Sikh group: An American-Sikh body has strongly criticised the recent incident of heckling India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, during his visit to a New York gurdwara. Sikhs of America emphasised that gurdwaras, as places of worship, should remain devoid of personal political ideologies.
During Ambassador Sandhu's Gurpurab visit to the Hicksville gurdwara in Long Island, New York, a group of Sikh supporters interrupted the proceedings, raising questions about Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader killed in Canada earlier this year. Videos of the incident circulating on social media captured this disruption.
While the hecklers were escorted out by members of the Sikh community, Sikhs of America expressed their dismay over the incident. They urged the gurdwara management to take decisive action against the disruptors to ensure that the Sikh community in New York can visit gurdwaras without fear or pressure.
The organisation's founder, Jasdip Singh Jassee, and president Kanwaljit Singh Soni jointly issued a statement condemning the incident. They highlighted that Ambassador Sandhu visited the gurdwara to offer prayers and was honoured with a siropa by the management. However, the disruption caused by a few individuals violated the sanctity of the gurdwara.
The statement stressed the importance of gurdwaras as sacred places, emphasising that they should be kept free from personal political affiliations. Sikhs of America reiterated their strong condemnation of the disrespectful behaviour towards Ambassador Sandhu, reaffirming the need to uphold peace and reverence within gurdwara premises.
- With inputs from agencies
