Tejinder Singh – AHN News Correspondent

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – A skit by comedian Jay Leno is at the center of a diplomatic dust-up between the United States and Indian officials, with India saying this week it plans to launch an official complaint over a reference Leno made about an important Sikh shrine.

Leno and his associates, in an episode of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” aired by NBC on Thursday, showed an illuminated picture of the Golden Temple and claimed the temple was the summer home of Republican party presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.

The Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, is located in Amritsar, India. Originally built in 1574 and rebuilt in 1764, is the holiest of sites for those of the Sikh faith.

Romney has faced questions over his wealth and Sikhs across the world reacted with anger over the satirical depiction of their place of worship as a place for the rich.

Visiting Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi over the weekend, called those comments “objectionable,” adding, “freedom does not mean hurting the sentiments of others.”

Ravi told Washington D.C.-based journalists, “Of course the embassy will take up with the concerned authorities in the government of the U.S. and naturally result will come out of that.”

The U.S. State Department had not received any communication from India on the issue but a spokesperson cleared Leno of any wrongdoing.

“We have not had any communications from the Indian government on this,” Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokesperson, told journalists. “We make the point that his (Leno’s) comments are constitutionally protected in the United States under free speech and frankly they appear to be satirical in nature.”

Speaking at the daily briefing on Monday, Nuland stressed the official policy saying, the U.S. had “absolute respect” for all Indians, including Sikhs, and that President Barack Obama was the first president to celebrate the birthday of the religion’s founder, Guru Nanak, at the White House.

“Our view is obviously that Sikh Americans have contributed greatly to the United States,” she said.

The online petition, organized by members of the U.S. Sikh community, accused Leno of making derogatory comments about Sikhs in the past.

No reaction was available from NBC or Leno.