MARYLAND (PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY): A news item in the Washington Times recently shocked the local Sikh community here by announce that a local casino was being run by a Sikh temple. Though it is quite a common thing to see Churches running ‘Bingo’ parlors for collection of funds, it is quite contrary to the principles of Sikh religion.
The local Sikhs were incensed by the story as gambling is never associated with a Gurdwara, a place of worship and spiritual dis course. Dr.Rajwant Singh of Potamac, Maryland executive director of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation says that local Sikhs were angry with the management committee of the Casino which by its action had hur the religious sentiments of the whole community.
Our correspondent reports that a Sikh gurdwara in Washington D.C. called Sikh Temple Inc. permitted use of its name to procure the license for the casino in Mary land, Mr.Shamsher Singh, the president of the Gurdwara, located at3900 Military road, Washington DC said,” operations of the casino and the gurdwara are not linked. However the nonprofit status and the corporate charter of the Washington DC gurdwara were enjoyed to get the license for the Casino in Maryland. Funds from the Casino, were intended to build another gurdwara in Prince George County.” However the local Sikh populace is not aware of any such project being undertaken. The documents of the casino carry the name of Shamsher Singh and his brother Surinder Singh Babra. Investigations reveal that the initial objections of the District authorless regarding the organization’s residential status, were overcome by showing that the Sikh temple (Casino) had its office at 2500 block of Aztec Drive in District Heights. This happens to be the property of Surinder Singh Babra. The casino has been cited by the county authorities for failing to document expenses and for late filing of reports. Inspectors suspect the casino operators of skimming profits. The “Washington Times” reports that much of the $665,000 earnings have not been accounted for. Financial results shows that the operators of the casino claimed revenues of $665,000 and expenses of $425,000 leaving a profit of $240,000.00. The Deputy County attorney told the County Judge at a hearing, it is “anorymoron” that a religious organization is using gambling funds to build a place of worship. He advocated that the casino be closed down as it won’t harm the Sikh temple much. A court case is in progress. Dr.Rajwant Singh said the Sikh institutions of America lead by the Guru Nanak Foundation and Guru Gobind Singh Foundation had strongly condemned the use of the words “Sikh Temple” by the casino and accused the management of the Washington DC gurdwara of having committed a “grave injustice to the Sikh religion.” Sources say that in the latest development, the casino has changed its name to ‘Temple Incorporation’ while it continues its business in Beltsville.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 2, 1993
