No tassels, cops’ turban now ‘Akali’ blue

Deepkamal Kaur

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 11

The orders to remove red tassels from the turbans of Punjab Police personnel has synchronised it with the Akali trademark style drawing resentment not just from the opposition parties but also from the force.

Police constables and head constables, who were today spotted with plain blue turbans, said that they were feeling uncomfortable in the new uniform format. “It does not go with khaki shirts and trousers. The tassels made us feel special even in a crowd,” said a constable manning a naka here.

An SHO pointed out, “Since the orders came about a week ago, my staff has expressed discomfiture with wearing a plain blue turban. They are complaining that it made them look like Akalis supporters from a distance. Many are still reporting for duty in the old style turbans. When I told them that even traffic police personnel wear blue turbans, they pointed out that the latter wear a white shirt and blue trousers which distinguish them from the crowd. I have told them to comply with orders from the top brass.”

Reacting to the change, AAP leader Sukhpal Khaira quipped, “I hope that Home Minister Sukhbir Badal is not ‘Akalidising’ Punjab Police. The force is already seen as an extension of the SAD. He should have at least ensured that the turnabs were not blue, a colour identified with his party. The resentment among the ranks is justifiable,” he added.

Punjab Youth Congress president Amarpreet Singh Lally too opined, “The decision is certainly an attempt to politicise the force. The Akalis first did it by making police sub-divisions in sync with Assembly segments to bring all SHOs under their halqa in-charge. We now sense that cops could be asked to change their uniforms to swell Akali crowds at party rallies,” he added.

The tassels have been removed after the Amritsar-based historian Surinder Kocchhar pointed out to Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal that even after 67 years of independence, constables and head constables had to sport a sign of British slavery”.