‘Hearts bleed’ after Sikh deaths: Indian ambassador
An Oak Creek police officer (L), speaks with members of the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin August 5, 2012 following a mass shooting inside and outside the Sikh Temple. – Photo by Reuters
OAK CREEK: India’s ambassador to the United States on Sunday mourned the killings of Sikhs at a temple in Wisconsin, praising the community as showing the best qualities of Indian Americans.
“Our hearts bleed for the precious and innocent lives lost in Oak Creek,” a suburb of Milwaukee, Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao wrote on Twitter.
“This is a very tragic time for our community. We must remain calm,” she said.
“The Sikhs are among the best Indian Americans – patriotic, law-abiding, industrious, generous and giving. I grieve with them today,” she said.
Rao said she received telephone calls from John Brennan, the anti-terrorism adviser to President Barack Obama, and Wendy Sherman, the number three at the State Department, to condemn the attacks.
In a modern twist to diplomacy, the Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman took to Twitter to voice sadness over the massacre.
The Indian embassy in Washington said in a statement that it was monitoring the incident, which left at least six people dead.
The embassy said that it was in touch with the White House’s National Security Council and that a diplomat had been sent to the scene.
Sikhism originates in India. While the gunman was not immediately identified, the US Sikh community – estimated at 500,000-700,000 strong – has faced attacks in the past by assailants.
It is very sad incident. We condemn such incidents anywhere in the world. Time for US to take care of its citizens and focus inside their country rather than finding enemies elsewhere, otherwise one incident after another will continue to terrify innocent people. US is becoming a dangerous place to live. May peace prevail all over the world.
All killings of innocent human beings, weather Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Christians or Jews is against the will of God and against humanity. Sikhs are being killed in USA as a mistaken identity because of turban and beard. But even killing of any innocent Muslim is against the Law of God and humanity. We are children of same one God may be trying same goal by different paths.
The main problem is availability of guns so freely in America.Only authorized people should have access to guns.With so many shootings and killings Americans should ban use and possession of guns.
I fail to understand why people are calling it a mistaken identity? Is it allowed to kill any community people who are unarmed and innocents? Be it any community who keeps beard or wears a turban it is the responsibility of the state to protect them. Else what is the diffreence between USA and the Subcontinent. Stop insulting humanity by calling it " mistaken identity"
Dear Indian. I fully agree & endorse the point you have raised. What mistaken identity or should we call it a friendly fire. Any single soul killed is a loss to humanity. Thousands of American Christians keeps beard. All community people keeps beard, should there be a celebration if bearded peoples from other communities were killed. The truth is religious extremism is not confined to any single community. Hell to the person who did the killings
This is a dangerous precedent. It almost certainly is a case of mistaken identity – the attacker mistaking the Sikh community with 9/11 perpatrators. It is a clear warning for Muslims and Sikhs to unite as never before and to be on guard against all these hate-mongers. Let there be no illusion….Muslims, Sikhs and all look alike religions are soft targets.
Where is the so-called human rights torch bearer – the US, why US is failed to protect a cool community,,,,shame on US, for ur double standards, US is the biggest cause of terrorism in the world,,,,if US stop introsions across the goble, the world would be the safest place on this world.
Very sad, indeed
Killing of innocent men should be condemned
it is very bad activity that an attack on sikhs. it should be condemned
The caption needs to be corrected, it was not the Sikhs who died, it was people of Indian origin who lost their lives. In India, in addition to Sikhs, people from other religeous faiths also visit Gurudwaras and offere their prayers. As can be seen in the photograph above, there are quite a few, who are not wearing turbans and are not with beard, these people obviously are not Sikhs.
Sad incident. This blind hatered will not distinguish and will consure all reason and every body. Is this the end of globalisation and multiculturalism?
They are being mistaken for their identity .Sikhs should appeal American to differentiate between Sikhs and other communnities.
Shameless comments very insensitive towards Muslims