Sir,
I, Lt Col Naginder Singh (retired) El Sobrante Sikh Temple at about 11 AM, to attend the Sun day Congregation on July 8.
I approached the management, asking to be allowed 5 minutes to say a few words to suggest a few measures for the safety of Golak which has already been stolen. 4 times since May.
T was asked to go inside the head priest’s room to request permission from the chairman, the elected management committee. Four members sitting inside the room, started asking me questions like, “Who are you? What do you want to say? Give it to us in writing.” They said they had been managing the temple successfully for the past few years and knew better than I what measures were needed.
They asked me to leave the temple and not go to the main hall to pay my respects to the holy book, as I had insisted.
On hearing this all the four started beating me mercilessly with their fists and slippers. I quickly opened the door, went to the main hall and settled down in one corner.
The officials individually came to me and requested me to leave. I refused because I felt they would beat me again.
Then the chairman told me that if I did not leave, I would be removed from the temple by the police I replied that since I had done no wrong, I had no fear of the police.
The chairman called in a police officer who asked me to leave or I would be arrested for trespassing on public place. I became scared, thinking that I had no friends or relatives here to bail me out and I could easily be kept in police custody for any number of days.
I again paid my respects to the holy book and left the temple with dignity, followed by the police officer and the chairman.
I rang up number of seniors, of good standing Sikhs to come to the temple oncoming Sunday the 15 July and ask management to inform me about my crime. I received a threating call on phone on 14 July evening at 9 PM that I should not visit temple on Sunday if I do so, I would be tied up, beaten and would be thrown on the freeway. Next morning, I went to the police station to lodge my complaint and requested for security police officer informed me that they already got information that I would be going to the temple at 10 AM and our police patrol is already gone to that area. He advised me not to go.
I went home and after getting ready I went to the temple at 12 AM. I requested the stage secretary to give me five minutes which was refused. After some time I got up and tried to make a request to Sangat to give me five minutes on stage. Stage secretary immediately announced on the mike that he is the person who tried to create trouble in temple last week and he cannot be given time since he is an agent of Indian Govt. Sangeet gave me hand signal to sit down. I sat down and after the Langar I came to my home.
How I feel that why should I be member of such a community, who are cowards, Forgotten their history, become greedy for money and their misguided youth by Cong (I) agents have picked up mob mentality.
I am now seriously thinking to become a Christian. shall be ever greatful if any American Sikh could educate me as to why should I remain in disunited,disorganised, disgraced, Sikh quam who has for gotten their culture and teachings of respecting and hearing the seniors who has rich past, spent years in Cong (I) Govt jails and served the Sikh quom, faithful ly,bravely and now with the misguided youth by Cong (I) agencies who do not allow them to organise any political gatherings so that truth could reach to the Sikh public, and they should not be able to Unite and be able to assemble at one stage to say
Lt. Col Naginder Singh El Sobrante
Article extracted from this publication >> August 3, 1990
