Shoe hurled at Tota Singh in US

New York, July 20
Minister for NRI Affairs Tota Singh and his delegation came under attack as hundreds of Sikhs protesting his visit allegedly threw stones and hurled a shoe at the leaders, following which the police took two youths into custody.
Tota Singh and other Akali leaders were scheduled to address a meeting at Richmond Hill in the Queens borough yesterday.
However, hundreds of Sikhs protesting the visit and chanting slogans converged at the venue and allegedly surrounded the area, according to information provided by the rights group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
The standoff between the Sikhs and Tota Singh’s delegation continued for more than three hours and a heavy contingent of the New York Police was summoned at the scene.
Two Sikh youths were taken in custody for attacking the SAD leader.
The New York police said the two persons were arrested for obstructing administration, unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct.
SFJ said the protesters pelted stones and hurled a shoe at Tota Singh and other Akali leaders. “The North American Sikh groups are opposing the SAD for their failure to convict police officers involved in extra-judicial killings of thousands of innocent Sikhs during counter-insurgency operations in early 1990s,” SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said.
Tota Singh is leading a delegation to the US and Canada to garner support of the Punjabi diaspora for the 2017 state Assembly elections.
“We will not allow Akali leaders to visit America and challenge those Sikhs who oppose Akali policies and have taken political asylum for their political views,” organiser of the protest rally Himmat Singh said.
Among the groups protesting against the SAD delegation’s visit to the US includes the SFJ, Sikh Youth of America, SAD (Amritsar) and American Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.
Attack an act of frustration: SAD
Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal on Sunday dubbed the attack on a delegation led by NRI Affairs Minister Tota Singh in New York as an act of “frustration” by some “vested interests”. “Such incidents show frustration on part of some vested interests who do not want the Akalis to paint a true picture of Punjab abroad,” SAD MP and party secretary general Prem Singh Chandumajra said.
Anger mounting against govt: Cong
The Congress latched onto the incident to hit out at the state government saying it was a “manifestation of the anger that NRI Punjabis, particularly the Sikhs, have against Badal and his government for their hollow promises and failure on all fronts”. PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa said: “The NRIs have shown mirror to the government that they cannot take them for granted by making hollow promises every time.” He said the Akalis were making a failed bid to woo Punjabi diaspora as the community could play a significant role in the 2017 state Assembly elections.