'Sikhs don't support Osama Bin Laden, we're a peaceful community'

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on 3 April called for a worldwide campaign to spread awareness that the Sikhs are a peaceful community - This campaign is a move to counter the rising attacks on members of the Sikh community, which has spiked since the 9/11 World Trade Centre attack.

DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK has condemned the attack stating that attacks on Sikhs abroad have gone up since the 9/11 World Trade Centre attack.

"After the 9/11, the attacks on Sikhs have gone up, especially in Europe, America and Canada. In Canada, there are 4-5 Sikh or Punjabi ministers and several MPs, and (despite that) such attacks on the community are taking place there".

According to reports, a Toronto-based Sikh man was verbally abused and beaten in Quebec City recently by a group of men who allegedly targeted him because of his brown skin and turban. Supninder Singh Khehra, an Indian originally from Patiala and a resident of the Toronto suburb of Brampton, was reportedly thrashed by drunk men. Slamming the incident, the DSGMC chief said:

"The governments, Sikh diaspora over there and even here, we should do some exercise with which we can tell people that we do not belong to Osama Bin Laden, Sikhs are a different community, they believe in humanity, they believe in service. Government of Canada must take stern action in this matter".

-- With ANI inputs