New Delhi, Aug 6 (ANI): The Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, on Monday said that the tragic incident that took place inside a Gurudwara in Wisconsin was unfortunate, and urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to take up the issue of safety of the Sikh community with the U.S. authorities.
Badal said the Indian Government should persuade the U.S. Government to find out the perpetrator behind the attack on innocent members of the Sikh community.
He said that he would be writing to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh requesting him to lodge a protest with the concerned authorities in Washington in this regard.
"We will be writing to the Prime Minister to take up this issue with the Government of U.S. A strong action should be initiated there to find out who did it and why. If anything happens with an American citizen anywhere, then the U.S. Government immediately takes up the case and comes forward for support," Badal said.
"In the same manner, I would request my Prime Minister to protest (over the untoward incident) and strongly support the Sikh community. Whatever pressure they can exert on the U.S. Government, they should do that and identify the background of this incident," he added.
Badal pointed out that the members of the Sikh community are targeted at times in the United States because of a mixed identity.
"I regret that such an unfortunate incident has taken in U.S. The Sikh community is an independent and different community, it is a different religion. Our members have also been attacked at times because of a mixed identity. I strongly condemn this attack," said Badal.
"I would request to the U.S. Government and I am also trying to meet the U.S. Ambassador here with the request that they should impose pressure and find out who is behind this attack," he added.
In the United States, seven people including the attacker were killed and 20 injured in an attack on a Gurudwara during Sunday morning prayers in Wisconsin.
The tragic incident took place at around 10:30 pm on Sunday as members of the Sikh community were gathering in the 17,000 sq ft Gurudwara in Milwaukee's Oak Creek suburb.
The unidentified gunman walked into the Gurudwara where he opened indiscriminate firing, killing six people. The gunman was also shot and killed by a police officer who also sustained serious injuries.
Indian Ambassador to U.S., Nirupama Rao, has described the shooting as extremely tragic, and said the embassy is in touch with the National Security Council at White House. (ANI)
