Raise beard ban with US: SGPC to Centre

Terming the beard ban in the US army a “violation of the religious freedom” of Sikhs, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday urged the Centre to take up the issue with Washington.

The president of the apex gurdwara body, Harjinder Singh Dhami, shot off a letter to Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, urging him to press for the rollback of the direction. He said the decision hurt religious beliefs of the Sikhs. They should be allowed to serve in the US army while practising their religion.

Dhami said the order disregarded the tradition and fundamental rights of the Sikhs, who achieved good positions all over the world on the basis of their capabilities while following their religious traditions.

He said USA Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announcement prohibiting any kind of beard violated the Sikh tradition keeping unshorn hair. “The US defence law prohibiting Sikhs from growing beards is an attack on the religious freedom of Sikhs,” he said.