US Ambassador Sergio Gor Pays Obeisance at Golden Temple During Amritsar Visit
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Sri Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, in Amritsar on Monday and paid obeisance at the holiest shrine of the Sikh faith during his day-long visit to the historic city of Punjab.
Gor, who is also serving as the US Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, arrived at the temple complex amid heightened security. Around 150 police personnel, including uniformed and plain-clothes officers, were deployed to ensure security and facilitate the visit.
The ambassador, dressed in formal attire, walked through the temple premises accompanied by officials and security personnel. Devotees and media personnel were present in the complex during his visit.
The Golden Temple visit was part of Gor’s wider outreach programme in different parts of India. He had earlier travelled to Jammu and Kashmir, where he met senior government officials, and visited Manipur, where he met Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh and visited the women-run Ima Keithel market in Imphal.
His Amritsar itinerary was also expected to include visits to Jallianwala Bagh, the site of the 1919 massacre, and the Partition Museum, which documents the human impact of the 1947 Partition.
Punjab has particular significance in India-US relations because of its large Sikh diaspora in the United States and the extensive social, cultural and economic links between the two countries.
Security arrangements in Amritsar were tightened following reports of separatist graffiti at several locations. According to official statements, police detained two individuals allegedly linked to pro-Khalistan elements in connection with the graffiti.
