Obama’s upcoming visit to Golden Temple will boost Sikhs’ image: Diaspora

AMRITSAR - Hailing the scheduled visit of United States President Barack Obama to the holy Golden Temple in Amritsar city of Punjab, the Sikh Diaspora has said that his visit to Sikhs’ holiest temple would further strengthen the Sikhs’ image in the US and other countries.

Ahead of Obama’s scheduled to visit Amritsar in November, a team of US officials visited the Golden Temple today and met with the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee officials to facilitate the upcoming visit of the President Obama.

The Golden Temple is the most revered shrine for Sikhs and the center of Sikhism in Amritsar.

Dr. Pritpal Singh, Convener, American Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (AGPC) while welcoming the President Obama’s forthcoming visit to Golden Temple, said there are sizable number of Sikhs living in US and Canada and they are delighted upon the U.S. President’s visit to their holiest shrine.

Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of Sikh Council on Religion and Education, has expressed joy at the news of Obama’s visit. Talking to ANI from Washington, he expressed hope that after Obama’s visit to the Golden Temple, the US residents would come to know about the Sikhs and Sikhism in a better way.

“President Obama’s visit will hopefully begin an era of peace and harmony. It will show that President Obama has deep respect for Eastern faith traditions and their role in bringing people together. This shows America’s respect for all faiths and traditions,” Dr. Singh added.

It is pertinent to mention that after terror attack on the twin tower on September 11 the Sikhs living in US has been the victim of mistaken identity.

They were mistakenly identified as an Arab. Besides that after US homeland security has ordered to check all the headgears at the US airports, Sikhs have been facing problems since their wear turbans.

Avtar Singh Makkar, Chief, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) said that it is matter of delight the President Obama would be visiting Harmandar Sahib (the Golden Temple).

Makkar said he would certainly take up some issues related to the Sikhs living in US.

Parmjeet Singh Sarna, President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) said that he is our respected guest and he would like to congratulate those who persuaded President Obama to visits the holiest Sikh Shine. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)