A video showing Sikh deportees from the US without their turbans (dastar) while completing immigration procedures at the Amritsar airport went viral, sparking widespread condemnation. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) voiced strong disapproval of the US authorities’ actions. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami demanded accountability for the removal of turbans and announced his resignation on “moral grounds.”
One deportee, part of a group of 116 illegal Indian immigrants arriving in Amritsar aboard a US military flight on February 15, revealed that they were not wearing turbans. He explained that they were asked to remove their turbans upon entering the US unlawfully.
The viral video shows deportees seated on the floor at the Amritsar airport, devoid of their turbans, standing near the arrival gate.
The SGPC swiftly condemned the US’s actions, stressing that turbans are a sacred part of Sikh identity. SGPC staff, who were stationed at the airport to provide langar (community service) and transportation for the deportees, supplied turbans to the Sikh immigrants.
Some deportees also reported being shackled during the flight from the US, prompting further concerns from opposition leaders. The deportees hailed from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat.
SGPC chief Dhami demanded immediate action against those responsible for the incident and pledged SGPC support for the affected individuals. Additionally, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia urged India’s Ministry of External Affairs to address the issue with US authorities.
The controversy erupted days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, where he discussed India’s willingness to accept undocumented immigrants amidst US President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
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