EDISON NY: About 50 Sikhs demonstrated Sunday night during the final hours of the Cultural Festival of India against an exhibit they said portrayed them as four different sects while there is only one The Sikhs who came from New Jersey and New York gathered Outside East Hall on the campus of Middlesex County College site of the festival. They asked police to contact newspapers for coverage of their protest saying they would not leave until the media arrived.
Edison police sent15 to 20 additional officers to the site of the protest. No arrests were made or injuries reported police said. About48000 people attended the festival’s last day.
They’re trying to distort the facts said Harbans Singh a member of the board of trustees of the Sikh Cultural Society of New York. We have nothing in common with them no common language no common way of dress no common food or way of worship.
We are demonstrating against the Indian govt putting up all this hoopla to distort the Sikhs portraying the Sikhs as Hindus staying the Sikhs have caste and class systems said Singh. They are all equal class and equal caste. Hindu sponsor
The Indian festival was primarily financed by Bochasanwasi Swami Narayan Sanstha or BSS a Hindu sect based in the western state of Gujarat. The BSS received financing from the Indian govt festival officials said.
The litratureture at the Indian Cultural Millionaire an exhibit that depicts the riches of India said that there are four sects of Sikhs the Ram Raiyas Namdharis Nirankar is and Khalsa Panth.
The Sikhs said the Khalsa Panth is the only Sikh sect.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 16, 1991
