Indian American hotelier honoured by Sikh council

Leading Indian American hotelier and community leader Sant Chatwal has been honoured by Sikh Council on Religion and Education for his contribution to humanitarian causes worldwide.

The council bestowed its highest honour 'Order of Khalsa' at a well attended dinner gala which was attended by several American lawmakers.

Sant Chatwal, the citation said, is a leading voice of the Indian American community and actively takes up its causes.

In April 1999, he became the only Indian in the United States to be honoured by the Government of India, for his outstanding service to the community.

In 2001, Sant Chatwal became a founder trustee of the American India Foundation and accompanied President Clinton on his first humanitarian tour of India in the aftermath of the Gujarat Earthquake.

Rajwant Singh, National Chairman of SCORE, said, "We are proud of Sant Singh Chatwal for his role in bringing Sikhs in the forefront of the American mainstream."

"He is always ready to assist in humanitarian causes which is actually an implementation of Sikh principle of Sewa (service for all)," he said.

Sant Chatwal, the citation said, has worked tirelessly for promoting the rights of immigrants in the United States.

He has devoted considerable resources to political causes, working closely with the Democratic Party, in particular with

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Joseph Crowley.