Sacramento CA: a: An elaborate function to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of World Sikh Organization and 3rd anniversary of the Sikh Temple, Sacramento was the highlight of the Sikh community here. Sikhs from different quarters of America had assembled there. The function was beautifully conducted by S. Bakhshish Singh Banwait, the secretary of the Sikh Temple Management Committee.

Certificates of appreciation were presented to World Sikh Organization and World Sikh News. The function was extensively covered by more than three T.V. channels and some regional dailies.

In New York the 2ndanniversary was celebrated at Grudwara Richmond in calibration with Sikh Cultural Society according to a report by Dr. Naunihal Singh, Director Administration, WS.0., copies of the press release were simultaneously released from New York also, Nearly $3500 were collected at both places on the appeal made by W.S.O, leaders. Dr. Naunihal Singh has

 Initiated a new drive for fund raising which is summed up in the following appeal:

A dollar a year, helps a bit .A dollar a month, keeps W.S.O.

Fit A dollar a week, that is it and to keep India at bay It is just dollar a day.

In its press release, the W.S.0. Condemned Hindu terrorist attack on Sikhs in Delhi, The full text of the release is given below:

“World Sikh Organization at its 2nd anniversary meeting held on July 27, 1986, at Sikh Temple Sacramento, California, strongly condemns the Hindu terrorist attacks on three Sikh religious shrines, bumming of Sikh holy scrimptions (Guru Granth Sahib), killing of innocent Sikh in their homes and burning their business establishments in Delhi and other towns on July 26, 1986.

“W/S.O considers this attack as a part of a larger scheme to destroy Sikh religion, Sikh identity and to silence them into subjugation. “W.S.O feels that killing of Hinduism Punjab is also the handiwork of the Indian Government. The purpose evidently is to discredit the Sikhs struggling for their freedom and also to create an anti-Sikh climate in India in particular and throughout the world in general. “The second purpose is to justifying the eyes of the world the army occupation of the Punjab, suspension of all civil liberties and the draconian laws enacted by the Parliament, specifically for Punjab, “W.S.O. expects from the free press of the free world to be more objective in its reporting of the Sikh problem in Punjab rather than depending upon the official releases of the Indian Government and requests the media here to speak up for the persecuted Sikh minority and also impress upon the U.S. Government to use its moral and economic influence with the Indian government to protect the human rights and freedom of Sikhs” .

Besides Kirtan by Ragi Jathasand Katha by Bhai Kirpal Singh, number of speakers shed light on the continued Sikh sufferings in India. Prominent among those who addressed the congregation were S. Didar Singh Bains, President W.S.O (International), Dr. Manohar Singh Grewal, President W.S.O. (U.S.A), Dr. Kuldip Kaur of New York, Giani Harbhajan Singh of Stockton and Dr. Gurinder Singh Grewal of Tracy.

In the press conference the role of W.S.O. since its formation in July 1984 was explained by Dr. Manohar Singh Grewal and Prof, M.S Sidhu answered questions on the genesis of the Sikh problem and the latest developments in India, particularly in the context of anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and bus killings in Punjab.

Article extracted from this publication >> August 1, 1986