Obama to skip Amritsar in his India tour

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/obama-to-...2.html?from=tn

Washington: Barack Obama will not visit Amritsar during his India tour said sources. The US President will only visit Delhi and Mumbai in his November tour.

Sources said, security at the Golden Temple is an issue, it’s too exposed and maybe that is the reason Obama wants to skip the city of Amritsar when he visits India.

Sources informed that the US President will not travel to Amritsar during his next month's visit to India due to "logistic" issues.

Obama, who will arrive in Mumbai on November 6, will directly come to Delhi now after a day's stay in the commercial capital of the country. Earlier, he was to fly to Amritsar from Mumbai for a brief visit to the Golden Temple.

It is not clear yet what "logistic" issues have cropped up but there have been reports that Obama's team was facing a ticklish question of what the President should use to cover his head while visiting the Golden temple.

According to some reports, the White House team, which visited India last month, had ruled out Obama wearing the traditional scarf to cover his head, which they felt may convey an image of him appearing to be a Muslim, a misinterpretation which the team would like to avoid.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/controversies/32824-obama-skip-amritsar-his-india-tour.html

Americans have not yet formally informed India about this change but it is expected that they will do so in due course.

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32824
Obama’s visit it is aimed at marking achievements in areas of technology, innovation and trade besides defence and security, according to a senior official.

The technology theme was related to "India's economic rise", inclusive growth was intended "to help lift millions of Indians out of poverty" and defence, security aimed to demonstrate "our support for India's growing global role and influence", Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake had said.

(With inputs from PTI)

 
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I, for one, will be relieved if he does not visit Darbar Sahib - Amritsar. I felt uneasy from the moment I first heard about his possible visit. Here is why.

Aside from any security problems, there are the religious problems involved.

Those not in America may not understand the religious climate in the USA today. It is vital that Obama be perceived as a devout Christian. Mata teking to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji would be seen by right-wing fundamentalists - a powerful political group - as bowing to a non-Christian, hence pagan, god. Accepting parshad would likewise be considered un-Christian. You may be sure that the Christian right, which is devoted to bringing him down, would be all over this in an effort to discredit him.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32824

Even covering his head would be a problem. There are those here who also consider him a closet Muslim because his father was a Muslim and he lived in Indonesia for a time as a child. Needless to say, his enemies will grasp on any straw to bring him down. He is walking a religious tightrope which may well decide his political future and his ability to function as President. This is a no-win situation for him.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32824


I know many Sikhs will be very disappointed, but I think it is for the best that he not visit there. The whole issue of going or not going will have made him more aware and knowledgeable of who we are and what we believe. I think that will have to be enough.

No headscarf, Obama may skip Golden Temple visit


Pranab Dhal Samanta - THE INDIAN EXPRES - Posted online: Tue Oct 19 2010, 11:56 hrs

New Delhi : US President Barack Obama’s visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar is likely to be called off after a ticklish question on what he should use to cover his head put his aides in a tight spot. Moreover, a packed schedule in Mumbai and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s plan to host a dinner for Obama on November 7 left a very narrow window for Amritsar.


But it was the first question which created more doubt — what should Obama use to cover his head when he visits the Golden Temple?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32824

The White House team which visited India last month ruled out Obama wearing the traditional scarf on his head. Indian officials were informally told that Obama wearing a headscarf to visit the Golden Temple may convey an image of him appearing to be a Muslim. This is one misinterpretation Obama’s advisors did not want at any cost, given the political sensitivities over this issue in the US.

As a result, a final decision on whether Obama would visit the Golden Temple was always kept pending. An American official is said to have explained at one of the pre-visit meetings that each day Obama has to remind the US that he should not be mistaken for a Muslim just because his middle name is Hussain. For this reason, considerable thought was being given to what Obama could wear without offending Sikh sentiments.

Obama’s aides finally came up with the idea of a “modified” baseball cap. It would have to be modified because the Golden Temple does not permit a baseball cap instead of a headscarf. In fact, the temple authorities have no problems with skull caps.

As Giani Gurbachan Singh, head priest of the Golden Temple, puts it: “We have no problems if he wears a skull cap, the kind that Muslims wear to the mosque — or any other cap that is modified to something similar. But we don’t allow baseball caps or Army hats.”

It is within these red lines that Obama’s aides had to find the appropriate headgear which would serve his domestic political purpose while taking care not to hurt Sikh sentiments. The Indian government, on its part, studiously stayed away from this issue, maintaining that it was for US authorities to resolve.
Obama, who arrives here on November 6, will first touch down in Mumbai, where he plans to visit a 26/11 memorial and Mani Bhawan, where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay. He was then scheduled to go to Amritsar for this brief and only religious engagement in the itinerary.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/no-headscarf-obama-may-skip-golden-temple-visit/699380/0


Sikh temple visit dropped over 'Muslim Obama' fears
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32824


By Dean Nelson, The Daily Telegraph - October 19, 2010 11:05 AM

A Barack Obama has reportedly abandoned plans to visit Amritsar's Golden Temple during his visit to India next month over fears that photographs of him with his head covered would revive false claims that he is a Muslim.

Members of Mr Obama's White House team reportedly visited India last month and told Indian officials of their concerns.


Mr Obama, whose father was a non-observant Muslim, has been dogged by rumours regarding his faith since his battle for the Democratic presidential nomination against Hillary Clinton in 2008. At times since becoming president he has highlighted the fact that his middle name is Hussein to boost his credibility abroad.


In August, a poll conducted by Time magazine found that almost one in four Americans thought he was a follower of Islam. The results came days after he waded into the dispute over controversial plans to build an Islamic centre near the site of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York.


Temple sources said on Tuesday that three teams of officials from the U.S. embassy in New Delhi had visited them in the past six weeks but that they were unaware there was any concern over wearing a headscarf. According to the Indian Express, one American official had told his Indian counterparts that Mr Obama had to remind America "each day that he should not be mistaken for Muslim just because his middle name is Hussein".


A compromise was reportedly explored in which the president might wear a "modified baseball cap" but it is unclear whether this would have been acceptable to Sikh traditionalists.


Giani Gurbachan Singh, the temple's head priest, was quoted saying a baseball cap would not be allowed, but Dalmir Singh, secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee, the Sikh governing body, said the president could wear anything to cover his head.


"Whatever he wishes to wear, he can. Our concern is to make sure he does. We don't have problem even if he wears a baseball cap or Muslim skull cap. We are all set to welcome him. It will be a great honour. If the visit is cancelled just because of American politics, its will be disheartening," he said.


But according to Indian officials, plans to visit Amritsar have been abandoned because of "logistical" problems.


A spokesman for the American Embassy in New Delhi said no plans to visit Amritsar had ever been announced and there would be no comment on whether wearing a headscarf had been a consideration.


© Copyright (c) The Daily Telegraph

source: http://www.theprovince.com/life/Sikh+temple+visit+dropped+over+Muslim+Obama+fears/3694968/story.html

For information:



A file photo of Queen Elizabeth at the Golden Temple
wearing a hat and a pair of socks.

In 2003 even maulana Fazul Rehman One of the most fanatic Religious leader of Pakistan visited Golden temple.He also met sikh leaders of Akal Takht .When he can bow to Guru granth Sahib then Why should others have problem or America is more fanatic than maulana

I dunno why, but these American fundie Christians are fanatic and powerful and everything I said is absolutely true. I'm sure the USAers here will back me up on thid.


At least, I hope they will. :happykaur:

Of course the symbolism is important, The PR value to muslims back home. The messages to fundamentalist Christians, etc. But....

Why is everyone prancing around the obvious? How many presidents of the United States have been assassinated or have been targets of assassination since the beginning of the 20th Century? The answer is in Wikipedia.

Consider you are the Secret Service. The President is escorted over the sarovar and onto the parkama. How many ways in and how many ways out are there? The President of India took route in her own country. Would her own secret service permit her to do the same, take a similar tactical risk in another country?

In addition, before the president goes anywhere there is a 2 -week evaluation of the locale - no matter what - St. Peters in Rome is no exception. Then sharp shooters are positioned on every roof-top several city blocks deep. Traffic is stopped and redirected within a several mile radius. Air traffic is halted over an estimated area of risk. There are shady looking guys with earphones and lapel microphones in every nook and cranny.

Before humming the next line of "America, America, Thou land of bigots and fools" ask yourself this question:

Do you want Darbar Sahib transformed into some kind of Osbourne Identity flick for a couple of days? Overrun by guys in black suits, and yes they will be wearing shasters, American style. Please, no yeses and buts. I have been there and I have seen it and I have endured it more than once.

This may be what they look like. In gray suits.

I was not in favour of Obama visiting Darbar Sahib anyway. it is not about the headscarf. Obama and all his security detail can wear baseball caps of their favourite teams, but what is the point? When he retires, he can go and visit as a private citizen. It makes no sense to me for him to visit our sanctum sanatorium.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32824

It would help us more if he spoke to the both houses and asked for the justice for the holocaust that took place in 1984. After all the US boasts to be the leader in human rights. This would help the Sikhs, not his visit to Darbar Sahib.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=32824

Tejwant Singh

Kanwardeep Singh ji,

Guru Fateh.

I have no idea what kind of wiring you used to connect Fazul Rehman to President Obama? it makes no sense what so ever. So what if he bowed to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji? It would not have mattered to Sikhi had he not. If you happen to visit Jama Masjid, would you bow during their prayers?

Did bowing make him a better Muslim?

What was the reason behind Fazul Rehman's visit? Did he apologise to the Sikhs and visit Darbar Sahib again when his countrymen attacked Mumbai and killed many innocent which also included the Sikh manager of the Hotel whose family was brutally killed by his countrymen? If he had become a better Muslim, then he should have visited the Darbar Sahib and apologised after the attack.

Let's not try to find any connection where none exists. It does not help anyone and does not further the discussion in a positive manner.

On another note, it is sad to notice that Darbar Sahib has been turned into an idol worshipping, money raking place rather that the place of solace, introspection and self reflection and who is to be blamed but the honchos who control it.

Tejwant Singh