By Yudhvir Rana
The Times of India
A US-based Sikh rights group, Sikhs for Justice, on Monday announced a $10,000 award for the police officer who risked his life to defend the people in the shootout at a suburban Sikh gurdwara in Wisconsin. Seven people were killed as a gunman, identified as Wade Michael Page, went on a rampage on Sunday before being shot dead by cops.
“We commend the timely intervention of the police officer,” said the group’s legal advisor, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. While announcing the award, the group held the Obama administration responsible for failing to protect minorities in the US. “This despite their claims of protecting religious minorities across the world,” said a spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice.
The group will approach the US Commission on International Religious Freedom to suggest concrete measures to the Obama administration for protection of religious minorities. “We are concerned about our safety especially after a spate of hate crimes against religious minorities since September 11, 2011,” said the spokesperson.
“The attacks have cultivated a deep sense of insecurity among the American Sikh community,” said Pannun, adding that the group will approach gurdwaras across North America to create a trust fund to prevent future hate crimes against the community. “We will also spread awareness on the principles of Sikhism,” he said.
Copyright 2012 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd.