US Sikh body commends Barack Obama's religious tolerance remarks

NEW YORK: A US-based Sikh rights group has welcomed President Barack Obama's recent remarks in which he asked India to promote religious and racial tolerance.

Sikh For Justice (SFJ) commended Obama for his remarks in a town-hall style meeting with students and activists in New Delhi that India will succeed as long as it is "not splintered along the lines of religious faith."

"We respect the invaluable lesson on religious freedom to India by President Obama and commend him for being the voice of American Sikhs," SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said.

An online petition filed by SFJ urging Obama to question Indian government on why the Indian constitution labels Sikhs as Hindus has gained more than 125,000 signatures and is awaiting White House response.