Tampa, Florida:
For the first time in U.S. history, a Sikh American gave the invocation at a Republican National Convention. Ishwar Singh the President of the Sikh Society of Central Florida stood on stage and spoke about unity saying 'everyone has one god. The gods have different names but there is one god'.
Speaking to NDTV after the invocation, he said it was a proud moment for him stand on stage and represent his faith on a national platform. "When I was asked to invoke prayers I agreed immediately because it is a great platform to show what Sikhs are and what Sikhism represents," he explained.
Mr Singh was invited to the convention by the Indian American governor of South Carolina's, Nikki Haley's father. However Mr Singh clarified that his being there had nothing to do with his political beliefs. "I accepted the invitation without thinking of whether I'm going to a Democrats convention or with the Republican. To me this was a national platform to show what my religion is all about," he said.
The inclusion of a Sikh prayer on the stage in the RNC's agenda comes just a few weeks after a gunman without cause opened fire on Sikhs praying in a house of worship in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Indian Americans here have praised the invocation, seeing it as an effort to show that people of all races faiths and orientations are part of the great American family.