A group of unknown men attacked Akali Dal leader and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK at the Yuba City Gurdwara in California on August 25.
Singh alleged that he was pushed to the ground by the attackers, causing his turban to fall off. The attackers went on to blacken his face and beat him after which he was taken to a place of safety.
The DSGMC chief recalled the disturbing incident adding that a group of over 20 people had attacked him.
In a video he said, “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. 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.”
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal deemed the incident as unfortunate and strongly condemned the attack.
“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 responsiblity of the US government to take strict actions against these people behind the attack. I condemn this incident,” he told ANI.
Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal took to Twitter to express her anguish and termed the incident as “cowardly”, “Strongly Condemn the Cowardly attack on unarmed @ManjitGK at the Yuba City Gurughar in complete disregard of Maryada and Sikhi! To these agents of ISI, the only way to get referendum is by attacking n intimidating Sikhs. No Sikh will ever be cowed down by your dastardly acts.”
Badal’s husband and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal followed suit and tweeted, “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!”
This isn’t the first attack on Singh. Previously this week on August 20, the DSGMC chief and his family were allegedly attacked by Khalistan sympathisers at a TV studio in New York. After that incident he had appealed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for help and demanded action against his attackers.