SGPC Condemns US Authorities for Forcing Sikh Deportees to Remove Turbans, Calls It a Grave Affront to Religious Identity

Amritsar:  Saptrishi Soni: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has strongly denounced the US authorities for allegedly forcing Sikh deportees to remove their turbans during immigration procedures. This condemnation comes after distressing images surfaced on social media showing Sikh deportees without their turbans while completing their formalities at Amritsar Airport upon their return to India. The incident has sparked outrage among Sikh organizations, political leaders, and the Sikh community, who see it as a deep violation of religious identity and an insensitive act against Sikh customs.

The case of 21-year-old Jaswinder Singh, a resident of Pandori Arian village in Moga district, has particularly caught public attention. Jaswinder’s desperate attempt to immigrate to the United States through illegal channels saw him selling off his family’s agricultural land, mortgaging their home, and even parting with their livestock to gather Rs 44 lakh. This hefty sum was handed over to an agent who promised him safe passage to the US. However, his dreams were shattered when he was among the latest group of deportees sent back from the United States. He landed at Amritsar Airport late on Saturday, returning home with nothing but despair.

On learning about the forced removal of turbans, the SGPC swiftly intervened to provide turbans to the Sikh deportees, ensuring they could reclaim their religious dignity. Gurcharan Singh Grewal, SGPC member and former general secretary, condemned the US authorities, calling the act an affront to Sikh identity and religious freedom. He asserted that such incidents should have been addressed at the highest level during meetings between Indian and US leaders, particularly during the interactions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. He warned that if the Indian government failed to take up the matter diplomatically, the SGPC would engage with the US administration directly to ensure such incidents do not recur.

The controversy has also led to a sharp political backlash, with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia strongly criticizing both the US administration and the Punjab government. He accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, of prioritizing political narratives over real concerns. Majithia expressed outrage over the fact that while Mann and his ministers have been vocal about the deportation issue, they have remained silent on the serious matter of Sikh youth being forced to return home bareheaded, stripped of their religious headgear.

This latest deportation has highlighted the ongoing crackdown by the Donald Trump administration on illegal immigrants, with Indian nationals facing increasing scrutiny. On Sunday night (February 14), a plane carrying 112 deported Indians landed in Amritsar, marking the third such flight within 10 days. This mass deportation is seen as part of the US’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, which have disproportionately affected Indian migrants who have used unauthorized means to enter the country.

Among the 112 deportees, a significant number were from Punjab (31) and Haryana (44), followed by Gujarat (33), Uttar Pradesh (2), and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Many of them were received by their families at the airport, their emotional reunions underscoring the devastating personal consequences of illegal migration.

The ongoing deportations and the distressing treatment of Sikh migrants have raised serious questions about the risks involved in illegal immigration. For many like Jaswinder Singh, the lure of a better life abroad has cost them their savings, land, and dignity, leaving them struggling to rebuild their lives upon their return. As the debate intensifies, calls for stronger diplomatic engagement and protective measures for Indian migrants in foreign nations are growing louder.

The SGPC and various Sikh leaders continue to press for an official response from both the Indian and US governments, demanding that religious sensitivities be respected in all immigration procedures. The treatment of Sikh deportees at Amritsar Airport has now become a flashpoint in the larger discourse surrounding immigration, human rights, and religious freedoms.

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