Sikh beaten up on NY sidewalk

Rediff.com ^ | July 13, 2004 18:21 IST

[CarrotAndStick]

In what is considered to be a hate crime, a Sikh limousine driver was beaten unconscious on a sidewalk in a New York suburb during the weekend by apparently drunken white youths.

At least one person has been arrested and police were on the lookout for two others. The incident occurred in the Richmond area of Queens which has a large immigrant population on Saturday night.

Rajinder Singh Khalsa, 54, suffered multiple cuts, bruises and a broken nose. Speaking from his hospital bed, he said he and his cousin Gurcharan Singh were confronted by the youths who ridiculed their turbans calling them "dirty curtains" and asked them to take them off.

Gurcharan Singh, who owns a restaurant called Tandoori Express, said they had left the car on the street and were walking towards the restaurant where they intended to have tea. But as they were passing by an Italian catering hall, the men, who appeared to be drunk, started using abusive language.

"I told them that it is not a curtain but my turban and a religious symbol," Gurcharan Singh said.

[Steely Tom]

Do Muslims wear turbans? Doesn't sound right to me.

(steely)

[ambrose]

This isn't the first time that some dumb ass redneck has attacked a Sikh under the mistaken belief that the victim was a Muslim.

[valleygal]

The first Sikh murdered right after 9/11 was here in Phoenix. He was the brother of my neighbor (who has since moved). Saw my neighbor not long after his brother was killed and he was wearing a baseball cap instead of his turban.

[agneyen]

Muslims and Sikh are verily different. They both may cover their heads but for Sikh person it is to wrap uncut hair. Sikh people are very friendly people.

Off course we know Muslims with their trademark religion of peace , Sikh get beating because of similarity in appearances.

[ambrose]

Sad. Tragic that an innocent Sikh is murdered because some yahoo thinks he is a Muslim.

[BipolarBob]

TROP Crossfire Ping

[saquin]

The incident occurred in the Richmond area of Queens which has a large immigrant population on Saturday night.

[Sigh]

What has happened to journalism schools?

Do they mean the incident happened on Saturday night in an area with a large immigrant population?

Or that Richmond, Queens only has a large immigrant population on Saturday night?

Sheesh.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

How come the Sikh was not carrying his big knife, that is part of the religious rites also? Oh cripes, it happened in New Yawk, where even religious weapons are banned.

[thoughtomator]

They're not Muslims.

[cyborg]

If Bloomberg has his way, we'll all have signs that say 'attack me' on it.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Give them the death penalty so that they they properly think about their monstrous and imbecilic crime. The gene pool needs lots of cleaning up. Might as well start with them.

[cyborg]

Very interesting that the two incidences I've read about had alcohol involved. Most sane people know the difference between a muslim and a sikh (I hope).

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Many people are too ignorant to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, let alone comprehend the difference between Indian and Persian cultures and religions. We're talking "weapons grade" stupidity here.

If anything, excessive alcohol consumption might either aide or hinder their "thought procecesses", hard to say. Nonetheless, best they be parked somewhere cold and lonesome for at least 75 years.

[Cultural Jihad]

Doesn't sound right to me.

Of course it doesn't. But then, what does?

[tkathy]

Maybe it's time for the sikhs to take off their horrible headwraps if they want to be in this country.

[Cultural Jihad]

A Journey to Mecca

Guru Nanak now set out to Mecca in Arabia. Mecca is the holy place of the Muslims. The Guru travelled to Surat, a small seaport near Bombay. From there, Guru Nanak and Mardana went to Arabia in a ship. After a few weeks they reached Mecca. There is a very big Mosque in Mecca. Guru Nanak and Mardana were very tired after long travels. They went to the mosque and lay down to take rest. Guru Nanak's feet were towards the Kaaba in the mosque. The Kaaba is a room in the middle of the mosque and is called, 'The house of God (Allah).'

A man named Rukandin was the priest of the Kaaba. He came out and saw Guru Nanak's feet towards the Kaba. He was very angry. He at once shouted. "Don't you know this is the house of God, you fool? Why are you lying with your feet towards the Kaaba?"

Guru Nanak woke up. He said, "O sir, I'm sorry I didn't know it. I was tired so I just lay down and fell asleep. Could you turn my legs to the side in which there's no God?"

Rukandin at once caught hold of his legs and dragged them to the other side. He saw that the Kaaba still stood before Guru Nanak's feet. Then he gave another pull but to his great surprise, he saw the Kaaba again towards the Guru's feet. He was so upset that he could not speak.

Guru Nanak said, "Rukandin. God does not live in one place. He lives everywhere." Saying this, Guru Nanak and Mardana started singing hymns. A crowd of people gathered around them. They called Guru Nanak, 'Baba Nanak'. 'Baba' means an old and wise man.

After a few days they went to Medina and Baghdad. At Baghdad a Muslim saint Behlol met the Guru. They had a long talk and became friends. Behlol asked Baba Nanak, "What is your idea of God?"

Guru Nanak replied, "There is one God. He is True. He makes everything. He is not afraid of anyone. He is not born. He never dies. He is self-made. We need only think of Him and pray to Him."

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I just read about a Sikh in London who killed a young woman. Hannah Foster, I think her name was. You'll find it on the bbc site.

[Cultural Jihad]

Maybe it's time for the sikhs to take off their horrible headwraps if they want to be in this country.

Maybe it's time to unwrap your apparent disdain for the Constitution.

[tkathy]

Most of the people I know are religious, and none wear obnoxious getups. This is the 21st Century. Most of these garbs are political in nature, about power and control.