General News
SGPC welcomes Pentagon’s policy shift on wearing of symbols by Sikh soldiers
January 24, 2014 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
Amritsar, Punjab (January 24, 2014): As per information Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has welcomed the recent decision taken by US military administration to allow Sikh soldiers to wear turbans.
“Allowing amritdhari Sikhs to wear five Ks on duty is a highly commendable decision taken by the US government which will also help to prevent hate attacks against the community members living in America and other countries,” Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar reportedly told Times of India (TOI) on Thursday (Jan. 23).
SGPC Presidnet Avtar Singh Makkar
It may be recalled that on January 22 the United States military approved a new policy that loosens regulations on religious symbols worn by service members, which would affect Sikhs, Jews, Muslims and Wiccans, who were not allowed to serve if they insisted on wearing their religious symbols.
Though the decision is being considered as a victory of Sikhs or other religious minorities serving in US army, it has come with a rider – religious activities should not interfere with a soldier’s ability to perform and should balance the need of service member against need to accomplish the military mission.
SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar said his organization had been taking up the issue with the Indian government and US embassy in Delhi to Sikh soldiers to wear their religious symbols on duty in US.
“Finally, US government has realized the importance of religious symbols in a Sikh’s life and have allowed soldiers to wear these on duty,” he said.
Avtar Singh Makkar expressed hope that with Pentagon’s latest policy shift on wearing of religious symbols on duty in the US army, governments of other countries, who had imposed restriction on display of religious symbols, might also review their decisions.
To Get Sikh Siyasat News Alerts via WhatsApp:
(1) Save Our WhatsApp Number 0091-855-606-7689 to your phone contacts; and
(2) Send us Your Name via WhatsApp. Click Here to Send WhatsApp Message Now.
Sikh Siyasat is on Telegram Now. Subscribe to our Telegram Channel
Related Topics: Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC, Sikhs in Untied States, United States of America
Leave a Reply
Listen Live Kirtan from Darbar Sahib (Amritsar)
Get Sikh Siyasat’s Android App
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT:
