NBC Entertainer Jay Leno’s derogatory remark about Darbar Sahib sparks strong wave of criticism
By Daljeet Singh
Published: January 21, 2012
Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar
New York, USA (January 21, 2011): Sikhs have taken strong exception to Jay Leno’s remark about holiest of holy, Sri Darbar Sahib (Amritsar), commonly known as the Golden Temple of Amritsar. Leon and his associates passed a remark about Darbar Sahib a show titled “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” aired by NBC channel on 19th of January, 2012. They showed an illuminated picture of Sri Darbar Sahib and announced to the world that this was the summer home of Republican Party hopeful, Mitt Romney. Romney, a rich businessman – politician, is under fire these days for amassing wealth and paying lesser taxes. This derogatory depiction of Sri Darbar Sahib, as the home of rich, is contrary to the reality and hurtful to the sentiments of the Sikhs.
Keeping in view the sacred importance and the history of Sri Darbar Sahib, Sikhs of America have protested en-masses by calling up the studios of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and voicing their concern. Calls have also been placed at the NBC offices in New York and San Jose, California.
“This is not the first time that this show host has targeted Sikhs in his monologue. Previously, in 2007 he called Sikhs ‘diaper heads.’ In 2010, he remarked, falsely so, in his monologue that President Obama could not visit Sri Darbar Sahib because of requirements of wearing a turban. Clearly, Jay Leno’s racist comments need to be stopped right here” Bhai Harjot Singh Khalsa, who has created a Facebook Group called “Boycott Jay Leno (For Derogatory remarks about Golden Temple)” has informed.
An online petition is also started by Bhai Harjot Singh Khasla to send a strong message that the sentiments of Sikhs worldwide are off limits to his monologues and cannot be used further his TV ratings.
“The Right to Speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution excludes defamation and spreading hate, incitement and false advertising” adds the petition.
It is notable that Punjabi Radio USA is playing a vital role in organizing the campaign, especially in USA.
An overview of relative activity on various social media networks (including facebook & twitter) show that there is worldwide wave of criticism as the infamous remarks have outraged feelings of the Sikhs.
Tagged with: Darbar Sahib, Facebook, Harjot Singh Khalsa, Jay Leno, NBC, Punjabi Radio USA, Sikh Diaspora
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
![[L to R] Pargat Singh (Balwan), Bakhsish Singh (Baba), Jasvir Singh Jassa (Manki) and Harjant Singh (DC)](http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/wp-content/uploads/Pargat_Bakhsish_Jasvir_Harjant-150x150.jpg "[L to R] Pargat Singh (Balwan), Bakhsish Singh (Baba), Jasvir Singh Jassa (Manki) and Harjant Singh (DC)")
![[Dera Radha Swami Head Gurinder Singh Dhillon (L) and Sikh Preacher Baba Baljeet Singh Daduwal (R)]](http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/wp-content/uploads/Gurinder-SIngh-Dhillon-and-Baba-Baljit-Singh-Daduwal-150x150.jpg "Gurinder-SIngh-Dhillon-and-Baba-Baljit-Singh-Daduwal (3)")
Jay Leno should be careful in what he is saying. I am Hindu, but have tons of regards for the Sikh faith, and for that reason, for all faiths. If it was a mistake, he must apologize as soon as possible. If not, he should be taken to the legal process (e.g., human rights and the like).
his comments are very hurtful and he should give a full apology to sikhs for discrimantion and he should do this live on his show
jay leno is so lost,jay go read sikh history first.ur head will bow in feet of allmighty illuminious light after reading sikh history.i will forgive u,but that supremelight,which is above every thing will never forgive u.good luck to you
JAY LENO HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FROM SIKH COMMUNITY IN WHOLE WORLD WHERE THE SIKH COMMUNITY LIVE.WE SHOULD NOT BE QUIET OR DISCRIMINATED BY SOME FOOLISH TALK SHOWS.
Jay Leno must apologize to sikh community
JAY LENO HAVE TO APPOGIZE TO SIKH COMMUNITY
It is cearly apparent that jay Leno is an ignorant scum of society aand it is people like him that bring religious hurt to spiritual communities and attacks upon innocent people going about their own business.He should apologise without any reservation or be fired by NBC, if it wishes to retain any credibility of its mission statement.Jay Leno is nothing more than a rcist bigot!
Do we need to respond to each stupidity? It is better to ignore mindless comments. By playing them, we lose our own dignity and glorify foolishness.
AY LENO HAVE TO APPOGIZE TO SIKH COMMUNITY
If we let him go without any retaliation, he’ll do it again and someone else will do it in future also, so this matter should be taken care and resolved now not later.
He has done this not for the first time.This has been going on for at least three times previously.He cannot be allowed to get away this time.
[...] Previously during the shooting of Sr Balbir Singh Ji; then about the patka of a Sikh youth was compared to a diaper.When Obama could not visit the Harmander sahib he joked that was because Obama does not know how to put on a turban. [...]
It is disgraceful of Jay leno to depict the holiest of shrines of sikh religion as a vacation home for a politician.He hurt the sentiments of all of us who have the greatest respect for sikh religion and the Golden temple.He should apologize and desist from making auch insensitive comments on any religious place.
Jay Leno must apologize to sikh community
Jay Leno Sould study the importance of Golden temple, before give remark, as he gave as like a ignorant.
Jay Leno gave a comment about Golden Temple as Like a agnorant person.
Lets look at it seriously & impartially.It was a small stil and a passing joke , that I, as a Sikh would have not taken much notice of in ordinary times. But given the times many find it easy to single out Sikhs and associate them with the taliban and then take pot shots at them, in the course having killed a number ; then shows the dangerous aspects of this so called jokes! The ingrained racist mentality of the Americans does not help them from exposing their own true picture instead of trying to rationalise it fairly.
However, what I have found VERY concerning is the manner in which the INDIAN government has jumped into the affray and made a mountain out of the molehill.Yet this is the SAME government of India that has protected the culprits responsible for the MASS SIKH GENOCIDE of 1984 and pretends it never happened.This is the same Goverment that remained absolutely silent on the issue of the turban in France and Italy, or perhaps offered lip service.However , in this matter it has flapped its wings so wildly that I have become very suspicious of its honesty and intentions.But sadly, most Sikhs remain oblivion to that fact, and are shouting hurt! What most have failed to realise is that should this whole matter go wrong for the Sikhs, it is not India that will have to pick up the pieces, but the Sikh community of US.
It is also very well exposed that when I made jokes of the Americans, THEY TOO failed to see the humour they are so busy suggesting that Sikhs should see.One should have seen the limited moronic vocabulary with open racist jibes they were throwing and suddenly the humour was lost, when the shoes were firmly on the other foot.Reminding the Americans, US too has been participant in large scale genocides of nations and people suddenly lost the lustre of the jokes they so much enjoy!
WHAT level headed Sikhs are asking is that be sensitive and do not offer any more ammunition to the racist thugs who blindly associate Sikhs with taliban and use such humour to energise themselves to then take pot shots at Sikhs going about their legitimate business in the states.
Secondly, I don’t think Jay should have associated a house of prayers with the dirty elections of the US.Religion is above politics, but he connacted the two together quite ignorantly.He had no right to do that.
The matter does not appear to abate currently, Jay and NBC silence , suggests perhaps they have belatedly realised their folly; but do not know how to rectify the situation, without loosing their “face” as they say in Mandarin.Sikhs respect and adore the 1st ammendment, but in such sensitive period where racist thugs exist, every decent person has to excercise responsbility and sensibility, taking into consideration that there different cultures etc around.US’s pot of honey can never be everybody’s pot of honey; it may be poison to others! As Sikhs have been victims of racist shootings, one cannot blame them for the way they have reacted, and as world’s policeman, US has responsibilty to bring this to an amicable closure without futher prolonging the matter.As much as I appreciate the UK lawmakers, I think it is best if they help heal the matter for all, rather than complicate it.I wonder how long can we discuss this matter civilly withoutthe racists again taking bait and starting their jibes.Asking anyone to be sensible in tuberlent times is not curtailing anyone’s right to free speech, it has be two way respected and accepted.