SGPC resents Centre’s move to leave out Sikh Regiment
GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 28
The SGPC has shown its resentment against the Centre for not including the Sikh Regiment in the Republic Day Parade where French President François Hollande was the chief guest.
It would have been an apt moment for India to demonstrate the Sikh identification through one of its most decorated regiment.
Committee chief Avtar Singh Makkar today said they would write to the PM and the President for this lapse. The SGPC had earlier written a letter to the PM urging him to facilitate a meeting with the French President to apprise the latter of the identity of Sikhs, but in vain.
This move gains significance as the SGPC is part and parcel of SAD government which in itself is a faction of NDA alliance.
“It was unfortunate that the government didn’t spare a thought to include the Sikh Regiment in the parade when the French President was presiding over the function. It would have been the best occasion to let him know about the glorious past of the Sikh community”, he said.
Sikhs have been continuously facing a turban ban in France and children there have been debarred from supporting turban while attending classes or getting photographed for their identity cards. Even as Sikhs over there have been trying to convince the French government, but there has been no let up in the instances of discrimination with Sikhs in France.
“It is a pity that although Sikhs account for 30 per cent of the strength in the Air Force, Navy and Army, the Sikh contingent was left out on such an important occasion,” the SGPC chief said.
