Perturbed Sikh diaspora request Obama not to call off Amritsar visit

Amritsar Oct.20 (ANI): Perturbed over media reports regarding cancellation of US President Barack Obama's visit to Sri Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple), the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC), the premier body of the Sikhs, has urged him not to call off his visit to the holy city next month.

The SPGC has written a letter to Obama requesting him not to cancel his visit to Sri Harmandir Sahib.

While clarifying the issue that appeared in the newspapers, SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said: Any type of head cover, other than military helmet, is not objected to and they are only concerned that head can be covered with any type / size of cloth, hat / cap etc."

"The Sikh Diaspora wish and eagerly wait to see you at this sanctum sanctorum as you are leading the largest democracy of the World i.e. United States, the country of every body's dream," he added.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) President Parmjit Singh Sarna said the SGPC should constitute a committee of Sikh scholars to have interaction with the team members of President Obama to take out amicable solution of the issue.

"Our first priority would be to bring President Obama to the holiest Sikh shrine "the Golden Temple" but there are some logistic problems in case of security arrangements we would like to invite him at the historical Gurdwara Bangla Sahib situated in New Delhi," he said.

Talking to ANI from San Francisco Dr. Pritpal Singh, Convener, American Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (AGPC) said, "We feel that if President Obama visits the Golden Temple during his forthcoming visit to India it would certainly boost the image of Sikhs living in USA and Canada even in entire world."

He said the AGPC is already in touch with the state department of America and request the President to not to skip the holy city of Amritsar during his India visit beginning next month.

It is pertinent to mention that a large number of Sikhs live in different parts of America, but a few of them became the victim of mistaken identity after 9/11. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)