SGPC Slams US for Removing Turbans of Sikh Deportees, Demands Action

A video showing Sikh deportees from the US without their turbans (dastar) while undergoing immigration procedures at Amritsar airport has sparked widespread outrage. The video, which went viral on social media, shows a group of Sikh men seated without their turbans, drawing strong condemnation from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami called for action against the removal of turbans from Sikh deportees and announced his resignation on 'moral grounds' in response to the incident. The deportees, who were part of a group of 116 illegal Indian immigrants flown in on a US military aircraft on February 15, were reportedly asked to remove their turbans when they entered the US illegally. One deportee shared that they were not wearing turbans who, which captured the men sitting in front of the arrival gate at Amritsar Airport, showed them without their turbans, a significant symbol of identity for the Sikh comes, emphasizing that turbans are an integral part of Sikh identity. SGPC officials, who had been assigned to provide services for the deportees, including langar (community service) and transportation, distributed turbans to the Sikh deportees upon their arrival. Further fueling the controversy, one of the deportees alleged that they were transmunen they landed and were instructed to remove them during their time in the US. The videity.

The SGPC condemned the actions of the US authoriti ported in shackles from the US to India, a claim that has been raised by opposition parties. The latest batch of deportees included 65 individuals from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, and 8 from Gujarat.

Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned the incident, demanding that the guilty individuals be held accountable and that a thorough investigation be carried out. He stated, “Our children who are coming here after being deported from the US are being stripped of their turbans. Action should be taken, and the SGPC will offer support to them.” Gurcharan Singh Grewal, SGPC General Secretary, also expressed regret over the deportees being brought back in shackles and without their turbans. He added that the SGPC will soon bring the matter to the attention of the US authorities, stressing that the turban is a crucial part of Sikh identity.

Bikram Singh Majithia, a leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, also condemned the actions of the US authorities and urged the Ministry of External Affairs to raise the issue with the US. He called for immediate action to ensure such incidents never occur again. The controversy comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, where he met with President Donald Trump. During the meeting, Modi had assured that India would take back all verified and undocumented immigrants, in line with Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

SGPC Condemns US Authorities for Allegedly Forcing Sikh Deportees to Remove Turbans

On Sunday, a US military aircraft carrying 112 Indian deportees, including 19 women and 14 minors, landed at Amritsar Airport. The deportees hailed from various states across India, including Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. Among the deportees, there were two infants. The group was part of a larger operation, with previous batches also arriving in Amritsar. The deportees were processed through immigration, verification, and background checks before being sent to their respective destinations. On February 5, a previous flight carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed at Amritsar. Another flight arrived on February 15 with 116 illegal immigrants, including 65 from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, and 8 from Gujarat. The new batch of deportees made headlines after some individuals claimed they were shackled and their turbans were forcibly removed during the journey.

One deportee from the February 15 flight stated that he and others were not wearing their turbans when they landed, claiming they were instructed to remove them when they first entered the US illegally. This led to significant outcry from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which condemned the US authorities for allegedly forcing the Sikh deportees to remove their turbans, an important symbol of identity for the Sikh community. In response, SGPC officials, who were at the Amritsar Airport to provide langar (community service) and transportation services for the deportees, distributed dastas (turbans) to the Sikh deportees. Gurcharan Singh Grewal, SGPC General Secretary, expressed regret over the incident, stating that it was unacceptable for the deportees to be brought back in shackles and without their turbans. He emphasized that the turban is an integral part of a Sikh's identity.

Bikram Singh Majithia, leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, also condemned the actions of the US authorities, urging the Ministry of External Affairs to raise the issue with the US to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. The total number of illegal Indian immigrants deported from the US so far stands at 332 after the three flights. SGPC officials have stated that they will soon bring this matter to the attention of the US authorities, calling for a thorough investigation into the treatment of the Sikh deportees.

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