SAD urges Swaraj to make more efforts for awareness about Sikhs

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today urged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to make efforts for greater awareness about the Sikh religion saying the death threats received by Mayor Ravinder Bhalla in the US underlined the need for the same.
In a statement here, the SAD chief said all Indian embassies and high commissions in the United States could work in tandem to create awareness about the Sikh religion and its tenets so that its followers do not become hate targets.
"Although a lot has been done in this regard, it seems we need to do more as Sikhs are still being misunderstood in the United States. The SAD will also contribute to this effort", he added.

Badal condemned the radicals who had issued death threats against New Jersey's Hoboken City Mayor Ravinder Bhalla.
The SAD chief said it was unfortunate that even during the campaign for the mayor's office, Bhalla was targeted as a "terrorist".
"I appeal to all right thinking people to condemn this kind of labeling and ensure Sikhs, who are an integral part of the American society, are not targeted for attack in any manner", he added.
Indo-American Ravinder Bhalla, who became the first Sikh Mayor of New Jersey's Hoboken city, has acknowledged that death threats were made against him and his family recently.