Says the community must respect the laws of the country in which it lives
12 November, 2026 – Chandigarh : Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas celebrations at the Sikh Cultural Society Gurdwara in Richmond Hill, New York, have come under scrutiny after illegal fireworks were allegedly set off.
Several youths were arrested and illegal weapons reportedly recovered from some of them. A police officer was also injured in the incident.
The community expressed concern over the incident of fireworks and the resultant garbage littered outside the Hindu temples and gurdwaras following the Diwali celebration in the UK, the US and Canada.
Condemning the violence and violation of law, Jatinder Singh, president of the Sikh Cultural Society Inc, Richmond Hill, addressed a press conference and tendered an unconditional apology to the injured police officer.
He said thousands of devotees had visited the gurdwara to pay obeisance on the occasion, but a few miscreants had disrupted the celebrations. He maintained that the gurdwara management had reached an understanding with the administration that fireworks would not be used, but some youths deliberately violated the restrictions.
“Had this happened in India, the police might have dealt with the offenders strictly. However, the police here handled the situation within the framework of the law,” he said, expressing concern over the embarrassment faced by police personnel from the diaspora following the incident.
He said the incident had adversely affected the image of the Punjabi and Indian diaspora and added that similar disturbances had been reported at all four gurdwaras in Richmond Hill.
Demanding strict action against those involved, Jatinder Singh said the community must respect the laws of the country in which it lived.
“We may have arrived here in large numbers, but that does not give us the right to violate the law of the land. A handful of irresponsible people are bringing disrepute to the entire community and could shut doors of opportunities for others from the diaspora,” he said.
Highlighting the attitude of some youths, he pointed out that while he was addressing the press conference, a youth revved his motorcycle loudly and sped past the venue.
“You can see how much heed this younger generation pays to our requests,” he remarked, adding that those caught violating the law often approached community leaders seeking their intervention.
He also referred to incidents of shootings and sword fights reported during a Nagar Kirtan in Yuba City, California, saying such incidents further damage the community’s reputation.
Jatinder Singh warned that the diaspora could have to pay a heavy price for the irresponsible conduct of a few individuals. He stressed that when fireworks were prohibited, youths should have respected the restrictions instead of taking the law into their own hands.
The Tribune