Punjab seeks confidence building measures from US
Sunday, 09/09/2012
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=47640&boxid=58031&uid=&dat=2012-09-09
Chandigarh : Punjab government has stressed the need to educate Americans about the separate identity of Sikhs to avoid any untoward incident in future besides seeking cooperation of the United States of America (USA) for more investments in Punjab.
This was discussed at a meeting with American Republican and former Congressman from Pennsylvania Curt Weldon, who called on NRI Affairs Minister Bikram Singh Majithia here on Saturday.
The NRI Affairs Minister said that the United States should launch campaigns in association with Sikhs so that they could not be targeted as mistaken identity. He said that due to mistaken identity, Sikhs were constantly targeted in United States even after the unfortunate incident of firing on Sikhs at Oak Creek Gurdwara in Wisconsin.
“It is the need of the hour to aware Americans about the separate identity of Sikhs by launching community and confidence building programmes,” he demanded.
Majithia said being a small, yet enterprising community, the Sikhs have always contributed towards nation building, growth and prosperity of whichever nation they have settled in. He said that they have contributed richly to the growth of the United States in the every sphere, be it agriculture, entrepreneurship, academics and their Armed Forces.
Talking about the Wisconsin incident of firing, Majithia said that it was very unfortunate that ever since the 9/11 attacks in 2001 in New York, the Sikhs were being targeted because of their attire and resemblance. He also appreciated the gesture of the President of United States of America Barrack Obama of ordering the national flag to be flown half-mast in respect of the victims of the Gurdwara incident, which went a long way in healing the wounds of the Sikh community.
Apprising Weldon about the world-class basic infrastructure for investment and incentives being provided by the state government, Punjab Minister sought cooperation from US government to motivate the Americans and Punjabis settled in the United States for more investments in Punjab. He also informed Weldon regarding the initiatives taken by Punjab government for the welfare of NRIs including separate NRI police station, fast track courts and NRI cards.
Lauding the contribution of Sikhs in the development and prosperity of America, Weldon said that there was large and dense population of Sikhs settled in United States and all the possible cooperation to Sikhs would be provided by America for safeguarding their interests.
Weldon also assured Punjab Minister that US government would start special awareness campaigns and community programmes to safeguard the Sikhs soon.
Law to protect Sikhs’ rights
Washington: California Governor Edmund Brown would sign into law the two legislations protecting the rights of the Sikhs in the State and including information about the religion in high school curriculum.
One of the legislation updates California high school curriculum so that every student in the State learns about the about the history, tradition and theology of Sikhism and California Sikhs.
The other legislation clarifies Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to ensure that employees receive equal protection under law, specifically protecting religious observances such as the turban, hijab and yarmulke.
In a statement, the Governor’s office said that Brown would give remarks and sign both the legislations at North American Punjabi Association’s peace and unity rally on Saturday, held to celebrate religious coexistence and recognise the victims of the Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin.
“Both bills represent landmark achievements that will increase protections for all religious observers in the workplace and expand awareness of the 100 year history of Sikhs in California,” said Sacramento Sikh Temple president Balbir Dhillon. PTI
Punjab seeks confidence building measures from US
