Thaindian News

Chandigarh, Aug 7 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will visit the Oak Creek gurdwara in Milwaukee during his visit to the US, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said Tuesday.

The chief minister left for the US Monday night on a previously scheduled visit.

Six people were killed Sunday and several others injured in unprovoked firing by US ex-soldier Wade Michael Page, who attacked their gurdwara in Oak Creek. Page was shot dead by police.

Badal senior was scheduled to visit the Wisconsin area, where the gurdwara is located, to attend the wedding ceremony of his cabinet colleague Surjit Singh Rakhra’s niece. The wedding will take place at another location near the gurdwara where the killings took place.

Condemning the merciless shooting of innocent Sikhs in the US gurdwara, Badal junior, who is also the president of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, said that entire humanity stood “shocked and stunned the way Sikhs were targeted in the oldest democracy of world”.

He said the Punjab government has already informed US authorities through diplomatic channels that the chief minister would visit the gurdwara. He will also visit the families of the victims.

Badal will also meet US officials to urge them to curb hate crimes against Sikhs.