Appeals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar for Immediate Intervention on Sikh Concerns
AMRITSAR: BJP Punjab Spokesperson and Sikh thinker Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala has strongly condemned the discriminatory and disrespectful decision of the Trump administration to impose a ban on beards in the US armed forces. Calling it “a direct assault on religious freedom and civil rights in a democratic nation like the United States, ” he urged the Trump government to immediately reconsider the decision while respecting the religious sentiments of communities that maintain beards, particularly the Sikhs.
Prof. Khiala appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic steps to protect the interests of the Sikh community on this sensitive issue. He noted that although the US government has mentioned a 60-day implementation period for the order with exemptions for certain special forces, the Sikh community should seek a similar exemption — as maintaining unshorn hair is an integral part of Sikh religious tenets.
Prof. Khiala emphasized that revoking the religious exemption granted since 2010 would severely impact Sikh soldiers who maintain beards in accordance with their faith. He said, “The beard and turban are sacred symbols of Sikh identity. Respecting uncut hair is a core principle of Sikhism. Denying this right is a clear violation of religious freedom.”
He added that the decision would force Sikh soldiers to make a painful choice between their religious beliefs and their service to the nation — a situation that is both unjust and deeply distressing.
Recalling the historical background, Prof. Khiala pointed out that before 2010, Sikh personnel were not permitted to serve with their beard and turban in the US military. This right was won after a long legal and human rights struggle by Sikh soldiers who presented their case before the courts and the US Congress. Gradually, the judiciary recognized the individual right of Sikh servicemen to maintain their identity while serving, leading to a landmark 2017 decision by the US Department of Defense to formally permit beards and turbans — a milestone in advancing religious equality.
He further remarked that the US government has never been able to prove before any court that keeping a beard poses a threat to military efficiency or discipline.
On this occasion, Prof. Khiala also took a firm stand against the so-called pro-Khalistan organization “Sikhs for Justice” led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and other separatist groups operating in the US and Canada. He said, “These elements are fraudsters who exploit the Sikh name to serve their anti-India political interests. When their favorite Trump administration is snatching away the beard and turban rights of Sikh soldiers, why are they silent?”
He reminded that when Sikh youth were being deported from the US in a humiliating manner — with their turbans removed, handcuffed, and shackled — these groups remained silent. Even recently, when an elderly Sikh woman was deported in handcuffs, none of them spoke a word.
Prof. Khiala urged the Sikh diaspora to recognize the true faces of these opportunists, stating, “They are not the real protectors of Sikh identity or rights. They are misusing the Sikh name for their own political gains.”