Akali Dal leader and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK was assaulted by unknown men in United States’ California on Saturday. The incident was reported from the city’s Yuba City Gurudwara. Singh was pushed to the ground by the attackers after which his turban fell off. His face was blackened and beaten by the men before he was taken to a place of safety.
Recalling the incident, the DSGMC president said he had been attacked by a group of more than 20 people.
"I was attacked by 20 to 25 people. I was here at the gurudwara for paying my respects. These people did not even uphold the dignity of a gurdwara. I told my aides to not say a word and maintain peace,” Singh said in a video.
“We will not be cowed down by all this (such attacks). I was first attacked in New York and then in California. I am not scared of these people, and I am safe," he added.
Condemning the attack, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal termed it unfortunate.
"It is very unfortunate that in America, Sikhs are being repeatedly targetted. This is the handiwork of such agencies, who want to instigate tensions among the Sikhs. It is the responsibility of the US government to take strict actions against these people behind the attack. I condemn this incident," he said.
Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal termed the incident as "cowardly".
Her husband and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote on the micro-blogging site, "I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on Manjit Singh GK. He was unarmed and paying obeisance at Gurughar where he was attacked by goons backed by ISI. Akali Dal has never cowed down to terror and will continue to stand strong on the principles of Sikhism!"
Singh and his family were earlier on Monday attacked allegedly by Khalistan sympathisers at a TV studio in New York, making Saturday’s incident a second of such attack.
Following Monday’s incident, Singh had appealed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for help and had demanded action.
The United States has seen an increase in hate crimes against the Sikh community, with two such incidents reported in August.
In July, 50-year-old Surjit Malhi was attacked in California when he was raising campaign signs in support of Republican candidates.
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