On Tuesday, Delhi Sikh leader and Badal Akali man Manjit Singh GK had claimed that he and his family members were attacked by Khalistan supporters outside a TV studio in New York. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjit Singh GK was attacked by a group of 25 people outside the Yuba City Gurdwara in California on Saturday. There is also talk that these events in the US may have been staged or manufactured to get Akalis sympathy back in Punjab where they are currently in third party status behind the unraveling AAP opposition.

LOS ANGELES – Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjit Singh GK was attacked by a group of 25 people outside the Yuba City Gurdwara in California on Saturday.

In the videos circulated on social media, the Badal Akali Sikh leader had his turban knocked off and then was kicked while he was down. However, Singh went on to pay obeisance at the gurdwara and talk to media afterwards.

Singh — who is also the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) — was earlier mobbed by protesters in New York.

There is also talk that these events in the US may have been staged or manufactured to get Akalis sympathy back in Punjab where they are currently in third party status behind the unraveling AAP opposition.

In a video message, Singh said he had come to pay obeisance at the gurdwara with members of the Sikh diaspora when he was attacked by a group of 25 people. “With God’s grace, I am fine. I did not break the rules of the gurdwara,” he added.

Singh said the attack will not stop him from serving the community.

Condemning such attacks on the Sikh community, DGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said disrespecting the turban was not in good taste because it represented the Guru and not an individual. “These people are respecting those who killed Sikhs and attacking those who are working for the goodwill of Sikhism,” he added.

Sirsa said he spoke to Singh over the phone after the incident. The local police have arrested a few people involved in the attack.

Manjit Singh GK had claimed on Tuesday that he and his family members were attacked by Khalistan supporters outside a New York TV studio. On August 20, members of the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (USA) protested against him outside a city gurdwara in connection with the Bargari shootout.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal also condemned the attack on his party member. “An unarmed Manjit Singh GK was paying obeisance at the Gurughar when he was attacked brutally by more than 20 hired goons backed by the ISI. These cowards can’t be Sikhs,” he said.

“Manjit was there to spread the message of Sri Guru Nanak Devji and to talk about the 550th GuruPurab celebrations. However, the goons want to spread terrorism. The Shiromani Akali Dal will not be cowed down by terrorism. We will continue to stand on the principles of Sikhism,” he added.