New Delhi, October 7
America’s top Sikh spiritual leader Harbhajan Singh Yogi, whose followers mainly included hundreds of thousands of American- and European-born converts, has died of a heart condition at the age of
75.
The Yogi, head of the Sikh Dharma in the Western Hemisphere, also owned Akal Security, one of America’s ‘s fastest-growing security companies, benefiting from a surge in post-September 11 government contracts.
With 12,000 employees and more than $ 1 billion in federal contracts, Akal Security specialises in protecting vital and sensitive US sites, from military installations to federal courts to airports and water supply systems.
The spiritual leader, whose American- and European-born followers are identified by their flowing white robes and turbans, died yesterday at New Mexico’s Espanola in his house at 9.40 pm (local time).
His large Sikh Dharma financial empire included Golden Temple, the natural foods company in Eugene that makes Yogi herbal teas, Soothing Touch health and beauty products, Peace natural cereals, dietary supplements and private-label products for Trader Joe’s, a specialty food chain.
The food company’s annual revenue exceeds $ 60 million .
According to information received here by National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Chairman Tarlochan Singh, Harbhajan Singh Yogi or Yogi Bhajan, as he was popularly known, had been ill for quite some time.
