Bathinda: The spurt in “hate crimes” has instilled fear among Punjabi diaspora based in the US. The community has attributed the development to US President Donald Trump’s “aggressive postures” on the minorities.

On Friday, US national Deep Rai (39) of Washington was shot at in front of his home by a stranger, described as a white man. Rai claimed that the suspect made statements like “go back to your own country”. This was the third attack on Indians in the past 10 days.

“Our children are scared. They feel insecure while going to school and college. The US has been a multi-cultural society with no space for racial hatred. But the recent happenings are disturbing,” said Bahadur Singh, a resident of Salem in Oregon state.

Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director, North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), said the number of attacks increased after Trump assumed office. “His anti-minority statements and the travel ban on citizens of seven Muslim countries have encouraged unscrupulous people. The incidents have unnerved us,” he said.

Tarlochan Sohal, Sheriff of the Merced county of California, said that as of now, there was no need for panic, but people had started worrying about their security. “The security agencies and the police are vigilant to avoid recurrence of any incidents,” he said.

According to Rani Mahal, a real estate professional based in Michigan, the feeling of insecurity was bound to rise among minorities if corrective steps were not taken.

Monu, a grocery store owner in New Jersey, said the main reason for the spurt in “hate crimes” was that natives of the US were still unaware of the distinctive identity of Sikhs. “Most of them cannot differentiate between a Sikh or a Muslim largely because of their similar headgears.”

“Trump’s statements have encouraged conservatives, who think that the US is meant for Americans and no one else,” said Dalwinder Singh Dhoot, Chairman, NAPA.

The Tribune Mar 07, 2017 (triubuneindia.com)