Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Monday urged the Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to make more concerted efforts to create awareness about the Sikh religion as well as its proponents.
“Recent death threats received by United States’ first Sikh Mayor Ravinder Bhalla underlined the need for doing so urgently,” he said.
Sukhbir said that all Indian embassies and high commissions in the United States could work in tandem to create awareness about the Sikh religion and its tenets so that its proponents did not become hate targets.
“Although a lot has been done in this regard, it seems we need to do more as Sikhs are still being misunderstood in the United States. SAD will also contribute to this effort,” he added.
SAD president also condemned radicals who had indulged in making death threats against New Jersey’s Hoboken City Mayor Ravinder Bhalla. “It is unfortunate that earlier also Bhalla was targeted as a terrorist during campaigning for election to the Mayor’s office,” he said.
“I appeal to all right thinking people to condemn this kind of labelling and ensure Sikhs, who are an integral part of American society, are not targeted for attack in any manner,” he added.