“This is the place that has been so frequently talked about by my parents. So many stories, so many memories … and now actually to be in that place is very exciting. It’s nice to come back to the place my parents belong to,”  “It is indeed a blessing to be able to relive some of the memories shared by my parents. It is indeed emotional and heart-warming.”

The Times of India reported that Sikhs attending the ceremonies were especially  upset when Mr.  and Mrs. Haley were  honored not just with a set of Sikh religious books but a sword. After   the couple touched his feet and ask for his blessings. the Granthi of the Golden Temple, Giani Jaswinder Singh, a member of the Sikh clergy handed his ceremonial sword over to Haley’s husband.  These swords, are a religious and nationalist symbol of Sikh independence form other peoples and proselytizing religions such as Islam and Christianity religions.

Many said this was against maryada or Sikh religious law.  Head granthi of the Golden Temple, Giani Jagtar Singh, said, “It would have been better had he given some other sword to Haley instead of the one which is given to a granthi as an honor.”

The governor also paid tribute to the martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh.  The parents of Nikki Haley, Ajit Singh Randhawa and Raj Kaur Randhawa, had migrated to the U.S. from Amritsar district in Punjab.

Haley, a natural born American citizen,  was born on Jan. 20, 1972, in Bamberg, South Carolina.  She was born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa in Bamberg, South Carolina, on January 20, 1972, to an Indian Sikh family. Haley married Michael Haley in both a Methodist church ceremony and a Sikh gurdwara.Haley identifies herself today as a Christian,^[67] but attends both Sikh and Methodist services.  She sits on the board for Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church.