White House officials block Obama visit to India's Sikh Golden Temple over fears it will strengthen belief he is a Muslim



White House officials have stopped President Barack Obama from visiting the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, over concerns that coverage could strengthen a belief he is a secret Muslim.

The temple - called Harmandir Sahib - is the spiritual centre of the Sikh religion and one of India's most popular tourist attractions.

It was scheduled to be the third stop on Mr Obama's visit to the country next month, but it has now been cut from the itinerary because of the impact it could have in the U.S.



Holy: Sikh devotees gather at the Golden Temple in Amritsar to celebrate the birth of Sikh Guru Ramdass. President Obama will not visit the shrine

According to Sikh tradition, Mr Obama would have to cover his head before entering the temple.

Mr Obama, a Christian, has been dogged by persistent rumours that he is a Muslim and Sikhs in the U.S. have been occasional targets of anti-Muslim discrimination and violence in America.

Dalmegh Singh, secretary of the committee which runs the temple, told the New York Times: 'To come to Golden Temple he needs to cover his head.

'That is our tradition.'



Days after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, a Sikh man was killed in Arizona by another man who mistook him for a Muslim.

Observant Sikhs do not cut their hair and Sikh men wear turbans that cover their heads in public.

Devotees: Visitors to the temple are expected to cover their heads and take off their shoes and White House aides were worried about the impact images of Mr Obama covering his head in the U.S.

Visit: The Golden Temple, in Amritsar, was scheduled to be Mr Obama's third stop while in India

Visitors to temples, known as gurudwaras, must cover their heads and remove their shoes. Sikh beliefs require men to tie a piece of cloth on their heads, rather than putting on a hat that can be taken off.

The religion, which was founded in Punjab in the 15th century, includes elements of Hinduism and Islam but is a totally distinct faith.



Queen Elizabeth visited the iconic temple in 1997 and took off her shoes to walk around the temple. Last year, Canada's prime minister Stephen Harper covered his head during his visit.

H.S. Phoolka, a prominent Sikh lawyer in New Delhi, said he was disappointed that the U.S. president was now not visiting the temple.



He told the New York Times: 'We have worked so hard to establish in America that Sikhs have a very different identity than Muslims.



'It is very unfortunate that even the White House is conveying the message that there is no difference between Muslims and Sikhs.'



Domestic concerns: The president has battled persistent rumours in the U.S. that he is a Muslim

Mr Obama's itinerary wil see him visit Mumbai and New Delhi.



The news comes as the president prepares to take his campaign message to The Daily Show.



White House spokesman Dan Pfeiffer says Mr Obama will record an appearance on the Jon Stewart show on October 27, days before the mid-term elections begin.



The president has been battling to boost Democrat Party fortunes ahead of the elections on November 2, with the Republicans expected to make big gains in both houses of Congress.

Michelle Obama has made frequent appearances with her husband in a bid to galvanise the Democrat campaign.