USA: MEMBERS OF SIKH COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATE OVER FEARS OF WAR BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
Record ID:
208462
USA: MEMBERS OF SIKH COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATE OVER FEARS OF WAR BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
- Title: USA: MEMBERS OF SIKH COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATE OVER FEARS OF WAR BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
- Date: 17th January 2002
- Summary: (U7)NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 15, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV SIKH DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE INDIAN CONSULUTE (5 SHOTS) 0.30 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMARJIK SINGH SAYING "We are afraid that the whole of Sikh civilization in Punjab, millions and millions of innocent Indians and Pakistanis on both sides of the border, will die. So, we want to give this message to the world community that there is a need to settle the issues through negotiations, through dialogue, talking peace, not war. And, as India's Defence Minister is visiting the United States today, his visit will start today, that is the message we want to convey to him as well. That, don't be a war mongering person. Talk peace, not war." 0.51 3. MV SIKH DEMONSTRATORS 0.59 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JASJIT SINGH SAYING "So, both countries have openly declared, basically, that they will use nuclear weapons when, and if, the need arises. And, if there is a conventional war, those countries, I believe, will end up using nuclear weapons." 1.13 5. SLV EXTERIOR INDIAN CONSULATE; SCU CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA SIGN; MV SIKH DEMONSTRATORS (5 SHOTS) 1.48 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 1st February 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVABF57YDLB2LJHGBIV2U8YR75TY
- Story Text: Members of the U.S. Sikh community, worried that war
between India and Pakistan would mean devastation for their
home province of Punjab, demonstrated outside the Indian
Consulate on Tuesday, seeking a dialogue between the two
nuclear powers.
About 125 protesters gathered in front of the Indian
consulate on Tuesday (January 15) chanting slogans urging
Indian and Pakistani leaders to avert war and open
negotiations to settle their differences.
Doctor Amarjit Singh, spokesman for the group, said that
he hopes the U.S. would play a more assertive role in
resolving the dangerous dispute before it flares into a
nuclear war.
"We are afraid that the whole of Sikh civilization in
Punjab, millions and millions of innocent Indians and
Pakistanis on both sides of the border, will die. So, we want
to give this message to the world community that there is a
need to settle the issues through negotiations, through
dialogue, talking peace, not war. And, as India's Defence
Minister is visiting the United States today, his visit will
start today, that is the message we want to convey to him as
well. That - don't be a war mongering person. Talk peace, not
war."
He noted that Punjab was the frontline during two of three
previous wars between India and Pakistan, and would likely
suffer the same fate if another conflict were to break out
between the two nuclear nations.
There are an estimated 20 million Sikhs in Punjab
province, which borders Pakistan in India's northwest. The
Sikhs' holy city of Amritsar lies just across the border with
Pakistan.
Navtej Sarna, a spokesman at the Indian Embassy in
Washington, declined to comment on the protest which was timed
to coincide with Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes'
visit to the United States.
Fernandes was set to meet U.S. Defence Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld, he said.
On the eve of his trip, Fernandes said the talks in
Washington would cover India's military stand-off with
Pakistan and review plans drawn up last year for greater
U.S.-Indian military cooperation that included some arms
supplies.
Sikhism, founded in the Punjab region of northern India by
Hindu-born Guru Nanak, requires men to wear a beard and a
turban. Members of the Sikh community put their numbers at
500,000 in the United States, with another 500,000 in Canada.
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