Hundreds of protesters at Sikh temple
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Updated: June 19, 2009 4:14 PM
Chanting and waving placards, approximately 300 protesters got what they wanted Thursday night as they stopped a controversial figure from speaking at the Sikh temple on Blueridge Drive.
Maan Singh Pehowa has faced allegations of crimes in India, and protesters turned out in force to prevent him from addressing the public at the Kalgidhar Khalsa Darbar Temple.
Vehicles attempting to get through on Blueridge could barely move as they attempted to negotiate crowds of people who had spilled onto the street.
Pehowa, a high priest in India, arrived at the temple as part of a convoy at 7:45 p.m.
He was already in the building by the time hundreds of angry protesters rushed through the doors, chanting his name and demanding he leave.
It has been suggested some of the protesters came from other communities.
Pehowa did not make an appearance.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., the gathering was told that Pehowa would vacate the temple. The crowd was then asked to leave the building peacefully, or risk arrest from the team of 12 assembled Abbotsford Police officers.
At approximately 9:30 p.m., with many protesters still waiting for him outside, Pehowa was ushered out of the opposite side of the building by his entourage and into a waiting SUV.
Dogged by rape allegations for the past five years, controversy and protests have followed Pehowa during his attempts to speak in cities in North America and other parts of the world.
Protester Bachitter Singa joined others in questioning why the hierarchy at the Abbotsford temple – who have refused to comment on the incident – agreed to allow Pehowa to speak.
“The committee and the president, they should know everything. Why did they invite him here?” he asked.
“It is wasting the time of the police and wasting the time of everybody.”
Manjit Virk, a spokesman for Pehowa, said he came in peace and did not want any trouble.
That is why Pehowa decided not to speak publicly in Abbotsford, after he saw the reception which greeted him, Virk said.
The charges against Pehowa have never been proven and he is an innocent man, maintained Virk.
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