MUMBAI: US comedian Jay Leno has come under strong criticism from India for his comment on the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the holiest Sikh shrine.

The skit appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC television on 19 January. It showed the temple as the summer home of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

The derogatory depiction of Sri Darbar Sahib as the home of rich is contrary to the reality and hurtful to the sentiments of the Sikhs. As a follow up, the Sikhs of America have protested en-mass by calling up the studios of the show and voiced their concern.

On the other hand, the visiting NRI affairs minister Vayalar Ravi, on Sunday, objected to the remark and has directed Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao to take up the matter with the State Department.

"It is quite unfortunate and quite objectionable that such a comment has been made after showing the...Golden temple," the minister said. "Golden temple is Sikh community?s most sacred place. Even our Prime Minister went there for praying in the New Year. I believe that the person who has shown is not that ignorant. The American Government should also look at this kind of thing.

While the Sikh community has launched an online petition, an Indian minister called the comments objectionable. The online petition, organised by members of the US Sikh community, drew the attention that Leno has been pronounced guilty for passing derogatory comments on Sikhs earlier.

Leno has yet to comment on the matter.