UK: Sikh soccer fan racially targeted due to skin color
A Sikh football fan has been targeted in a vile and racist letter due to his "skin color" after he put up British flags on his shop window. The manager of GMS Heating & Plumbing, Gagan, 31, received the anonymous letter last week which claimed he shouldn't support England during the World Cup because he is Indian, and it is "betraying the Asian community".
What were the contents of the letter?
Gagan raised the British flag for the first time last Wednesday at the store in Ilford, East London, and received the note the following day. "You have put (the) wrong flag outside your shop when you have come from India. Have you forgotten your skin color? You should put the Pakistan flag outside your shop not British," the letter said.
Letter was filled with spelling mistakes, grammatical errors
Bizarrely, the letter also addressed as "Dear Uncle," according to Gagan, was filled with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. "If National Front skinheads saw this flag outside they will kick you back to India without your trousers on," the letter said.
In response to letter, Gagan's father bought four more flags
Gagan said his father immediately went out to purchase four more flags after opening the letter. He said, "We're just trying to have some fun and people want to ruin it by saying it should not be done. It should be done." He aded, "I find this mentality really stupid to be honest, what we can't support the country that we're living in?"
Gagan's family living in England for around 40 years
Refusing to back down, Gagan said they always put out St. George flags for major sporting events. "We have lived in this country for around 40 years... we love this country otherwise we wouldn't be here," he said. "Supporting England during the football is enjoyable and some people seem to think it is wrong for us to do because we are Indian?" he asked
