Press Release by Sukhpal Khaira

Press Release
To Dated 17.4.09
Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji,
Prime Minister,
India.

Subject: - Request to take up the issue of discrimination against Sikhs by the U.S Army, with the United States Govt. at the highest level.

Sir,
As has been reported in the Hindustan Times dated 16.4.09, two Sikhs namely Capt. Kamaljit Singh Kalsi a doctor and Second lieutenant Tejdeep Singh Rattan a dentist, who have just completed an army programme that pays for medical education in return for military service were asked to remove their turbans and cut their hair to become eligible for active duty in the US Army.

Needless to mention that unshorn hair and turban are symbols of pride for the Sikh Community and asking Sikhs to cut their hair and remove their turban amounts to hurting the sentiments of not only the two officers but the entire Sikh community. The Sikh community led by an organization ‘The Sikh Coalition’ have launched a signature campaign to end this biased and discriminatory act of the US Govt. A petition has also been submitted to the US Army besides holding a protest in front of the historic Marine Corps War Memorial near Pentagon on Tuesday in Washington.

The Sikhs are already suffering on account of discrimination against Sikhs living in France, where the Govt. has banned wearing of turban and other religious symbols in public schools and Govt. offices. This ban is under challenge in the United Nations Human Rights Commission in New York.

In order to restore the dignity and pride of the Sikhs, I would request the Govt. of India to take up this important issue at the highest level with their counterpart in the US Administration, to end this extreme discriminatory attitude against those Sikhs wishing to join the US Army.

I hope immediate priority would be given to this issue.

With Regards,


CC: - Sh. H.S Hanspal,
Member, National Minorities Commission,
Govt. of India.
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