New York, Dec 13: In a historic first, a distinguished Sikh public prosecutor “who has experienced hate and intolerance first-hand” has been nomited to be the next attorney general of the US state of New Jersey. If Gurbir S. Grewal’s nomition by Democrat Governor-elect Phil Murphy is approved by the State Sete early next year, he will be the first Sikh to assume the top state law enforcement position in the United States and the second Indian-American, after Kamala Harris, who held the position in California before her election to the US Sete.
Announcing the nomition in the state capital, Trenton, on Tuesday, Murphy said: “In light of all that is being thrown at us by the president, we need an attorney general ufraid to join our fellow states in using the law to protect all New Jersey residents.”
Grewal, 44, is the prosecutor of Bergen County, an important district across the river from New York city. He was appointed to by the current Republican Governor Chris Christie and that is likely to mute any opposition the sete.
Symbolic of the public acceptance of minorities despite scattered incidents of bigotry, two Sikhs were elected mayors last month, Ravi Bhalla in Hoboken, New Jersey, and Preet Didbal in Yuba City, California.
Vin Gopal, who became the first Indian-American to be elected to the New Jersey State Sete last month, said that Grewal is someone “not only eminently qualified, but who will bring a perspective to the office that is diverse and long-overdue.”
After Murphy made the announcement, Grewal said: “I wanted to give back to a country that has given us and other immigrant families like us so much.”
Turning to his three daughters, Kyrpa, Mayher and Mahek, who were with him, he said: “As someone who has experienced hate and intolerance first-hand throughout my life, I wanted to work to ensure we all live in and that the three of you grow up in a fair and just society.” (IANS)