Dear Editor:
The recent articles and letters published in World Sikh News regarding Neil Dhillon and my personal experiences with politicians prompted me to write this letter.
On October 3,1993, I was able to meet President Bill Clinton when he came to Sacramento for a California Town Hall Meeting. He was charismatic, shaking hands with almost everyone and Signing autographs. Immediately after the first break for TV commercials, President Clinton waved lo. a woman wearing a hat in the audience. He said to her that her mother had sent him her picture and indicated that she (the daughter) would be at this meeting. The audience member has cancer and her treatments were so expensive that they may not be covered under the proposed national health care system and she wanted to know whether any insurance could cover people like her, This kind of dialogue, between audience members who have cancer, were handicapped, are teenagers trying to stay away from drugs and violence, and the elderly who want to be safe and secure, showed everyone in the audience and watching on TV that President Clinton was trying to reach all segments of the population to understand their needs and concerns. I believe that Neil Dhillon is trying to do that in his own way. He stated in the interview that was published earlier in World Sikh News that he sees a larger constituency that he represents, Asian Americans, rather than just Sikhs in America, President Clinton, in Town Hall Meetings, is demonstrating that he represents and cares about everyone, including the youth in South Sac ramen to looking for jobs and the terminally ill as well as the middle aged unemployed high tech workers, He listens carefully, has thought about the issues that are in everyone’s minds, and has some kind of plan of action that he details, The answers that President Clinton gave to audience members in California demonstrate that he is not hiding from the people or their problems but understands their concerns and is trying to change things. T have not personally met Neil Dhillon but believe that he may be learning more about Sikhism and Sikh problems in India now than he did ever before, When another Dhillon, David Dhillon, ran unsuccessfully for Assemblies a couple of years ago, he had to be introduced to the Sikh community in America. David Dhillon is the mayor of El Centro, California, Both of his grandfathers were Sikhs. His mother and his grandmothers are of Mexican heritage, 1am proud to say that I have met David Dhillon on several occasions at Republican Conventions in Sacramento and at the West Sacramento Gurdwara. He listened to my concerns, the problems we as Sikhs face in America as well as India, and he will be a good political leader in the future. Note that David Dhillon is Christian but has a good understanding of Sikhism due to his heritage and his interest in Sikhs in America, Whether Neil Dhillon has such an understanding and interest is not clear to me. He seems to have evaded the human rights issues that American members of Congress fully comprehend, in spite of their not being of Sikh heritage like he is. Perhaps he is conveniently using the Sikh community to raise funds and does not care about Sikh issues here in America and India don’t know. However, he should not be labeled as a gold digger and a non-Sikh just because he does not support Khalistan. Remember only people in the district in Maryland from which he is running can vote for Neil Dhillon. The total number of Sikh voters there will not make a difference. Sikhs who contribute money to his campaign may not be able to get him elected cither. In any event, I would not characterize this candidate for Congress as “pro Indian government” as quickly as others have. With the example of David Dhillon and President Clinton fresh in my mind, I would give Neil Dhillon the benefit of the doubt and an opportunity to show that he cares about Sikhs and Sikh issues if he can get elected. Make sure he gets World Sikh News sent to him every week so he will be able to read and learn about our concerns.
Kulvinder Singh Sacramento, CA
Article extracted from this publication >> October 29, 1993
