Sikhs from various walks of life today made an emphatic appeal to US President Barack Obama,asking him not to cancel his planned visit to the Golden Temple on the issue of wearing a headscarf or cap on the temple premises. They said though Obama would have to cover his head in accordance with Sikh traditions to visit the gurdwara,they had no objection if he wore a cap or even a hat. The Indian Express carried a story in todays edition (October 19,2010),saying Obama might skip his proposed Golden Temple visit as US officials fear wearing a cap might create the impression among some Americans that he is a Muslim and alienate a section of US Christians. President Obama is a Christian whose late father was a Kenyan Muslim. The Akal Takht Jathedar,Giani Gurbachan Singh,had stated that the US President may wear a scarf or a cap that is worn by Muslims but cannot wear a baseball cap or anything that resembles one. Teams from the White House and the US Embassy have visited Amritsar several times over the past three weeks to assess the arrangements for the visit. Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar,president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC),the paramount representative body of the Sikhs,said that their only condition was that he (Obama) should cover his head with any clothe or as per traditions. I am calling an emergency meeting with the other Executive Body members. We want to make it clear that he may wear anything to cover the head. It may be an appropriate cap also,Makkar told The Indian Express. Jathedar Gurbachan Singh is abroad and will be addressing mediapersons here after returning on Wednesday. He is aware about the issue and he is touched. He is reaching here tomorrow (WEdnesday) and would clarify that he did not put any condition regarding the wearing of a baseball cap, said top sources at the Sikhs highest temporal seat,the Akal Takht,here. The sources added that they were receiving calls and fax messages from all over the world. We have no objection to his wearing a cap. He is our revered guests and we are already in the process of welcoming him with full honours, said a personal staff member of the Jathedar. Congress MLA Kewal Dhillon said in a statement that the US Presidents proposed visit was historic as it would give recognition and respect to the entire Sikh community living in India and across the world. Moreover,it would help clear the confusion over the various cases of mistaken identity whereby so many Sikhs living in the USA have been victims of brutalities in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He said that it would be truly a huge loss to the entire Sikh community if the visit gets called off and urged the SGPC to find a solution to the problem as soon as possible to ensure that the visit is not cancelled. Makkar said,Though we have no confirmation from officials on whether he is canceling the visit,we are preparing to receive him. He added that he had spoken to various NRI Sikhs,including hotelier Sant Chhatwal,who had confirmed that Obama would be visiting the Golden Temple. Let me clarify that wearing a cap or not or a headgear will not come in the way of his visit, Makkar assured. Former SGPC Executive Body member Kiranjot Kaur,too,said that they would not allow the impression to be created that the headscarf was coming in the way of the US Presidents visit to the holy shrine. Such issues will not hinder the high-profile visit. There are a large number of Punjabi NRIs in the USA and all they want is that he should pay a visit to the holy place,she asserted.
