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India Fumes Over Leno Joke

Will discuss spoof on Sikh holy place with State Department

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 24, 2012 1:00 AM CST | Updated Jan 24, 2012 3:10 AM CST

(Newser) – Jay Leno has created a bit of an international brouhaha over a joke that's not sitting well with India's Sikh community. The Tonight Show last week displayed a picture of the holiest Sikh temple—the stunning Golden Temple of Amritsar—before Leno called it Mitt Romney's summer home. Sikhs have organized an online petition calling for Leno's "racist comments" to "be stopped right here," and an Indian official says the country's embassy plans to discuss the comment with the US State Department, the BBC reports.

The joke was "quite unfortunate and quite objectionable," said the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister. "The Golden Temple is the Sikh community's most sacred place. The American government should also look at this kind of thing. Freedom does not mean hurting the sentiments of others."

Sikhs sit and watch the illuminated Golden temple on the eve of the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in Amritsar, India, Friday, Dec. 30, 2011.
Sikhs sit and watch the illuminated Golden temple on the eve of the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh in Amritsar, India, Friday, Dec. 30, 2011.   (AP Photo/Prabhjot Gill)
A Jay Leno joke has India angry.
A Jay Leno joke has India angry.   (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 48 comments
America_Firster
Jan 29, 2012 9:28 PM CST
Who the f#€% is Jay Leno and why do a few kwans even think he is funny?
LollieDotCom
Jan 24, 2012 9:45 PM CST
I love Jay Leno.  He's a good hearted, funny man without a mean or hateful bone in his body.  He never intentionally insulted anyone by complimenting their beautiful building in their country that treats cows better than people. Hells bells, if they think Jay is insulting, what must they think of steak houses and fast food places? 
theblueflame51
Jan 24, 2012 4:16 PM CST
First, do you really think Leno was deliberately intending to offend your religion?  It was a lavish and golden building that fit into his Romney joke.    Second, it was Leno, so nobody saw it anyway. 

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