Lieutenant Governor,
Leo T. McCarthy
Office of the Sacramento State Capitol
Room #1028
Sacramento, CA 95814
The American Sikh community has come to know that you will be the guest speaker at the Indian Republic Day celebrations to be held on February 1, 1986 at the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles.
‘The thought of you sharing the Occasions with the supporters of the tyrant Indian Government is quite saddening. The Sikh community is still in shock and grieving the loss of relatives who are ‘becoming victims of the atrocities and religious persecution, including desecration of Sikh religious places.
‘Your presence at this occasion will only tends to endorse the repressive policies of this dynastic, democracy, resulting in more ‘oppression of the Sikh minority in India. Such events are financed and orchestrated by the Indian Government agents with a handful of supporters. one may ask why do these supporters find it necessary to honor and promote India when she continues to remain to be a strong ally of Russia? The fact is that the Government, through these supporters, wants to distract the world from its repressive policies. To fall prey to such tactics would only exhibit shallow knowledge of the situation.
Thousands of anguished Sikhs in the State of California, regardless of their political ideology, will find it difficult to endorse any candidate who finds comfort in associating with the agents of the Indian Government.
It is our desire that you make a conscientious decision and to decline this invitation, if you find it difficult to decline despite this plea, we request that you address the issue of Civil Liberties and human rights in India.
We are enclosing some information which will bring to light the intolerance of Hindu Majority towards other minority religions such as Christian, Moslem and Sikh in that country.
Mohinder S. Sandhu Coordinator.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 7, 1986
