A controversy started after Sikh deportees from the US were seen without their turbans at the Amritsar airport. The SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal criticized US authorities, claiming they didn’t let the Sikh deportees wear their turbans.
A video went viral showing Sikh deportees from the US without their turbans while going through immigration at the Amritsar airport. The video sparked strong reactions from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
One of the Sikh deportees, who was part of a group of 116 illegal Indian immigrants flown back to Amritsar on a US military plane on February 15, said they were forced to remove their turbans when they entered the US illegally.
The video shows a group of men is sitting on the floor at the Amritsar airport without their turbans. This video was taken from the arrival gate, which is a glass door.
Have a look at the video posted by Gurushamshir Singh:
Several Sikh deportees who were in deportation flight didn't have turbans on their heads at the time of landing last night at Sri Guru Ram Das Airport Amritsar. US military aircraft carrying 119 indian Deportees
— Gurshamshir Singh (@gswaraich6) February 16, 2025
It's violation of basic human right of dignified treatment . pic.twitter.com/IWyoNdK0zQ
The SGPC strongly criticized US authorities for allegedly not allowing the Sikh deportees to wear their turbans, which are an important symbol of identity for Sikhs.
SGPC officials, who were at the Amritsar airport to provide community services like food and transportation for the deportees, gave turbans to the Sikh deportees.
One of the deportees also claimed they were kept in shackles during their journey from the US to India, which raised concerns among Opposition parties. The group of deportees included 65 people from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, and 8 from Gujarat.
Reacting to the controversy, SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal said, “It’s very upsetting that deportees were brought in shackles and Sikh deportees were not allowed to wear their turbans.”
He added that the SGPC will raise the issue with US authorities soon, emphasizing that the turban is an important part of a Sikh’s identity.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia also criticized the US for allegedly sending Sikh deportees without their turbans. He called on India’s Ministry of External Affairs to take immediate action with the US to ensure such incidents never happen again.
This got highlighted just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, where he met President Donald Trump. During the visit, PM Modi assured that India would take back both verified and undocumented immigrants as part of Trump’s efforts to reduce illegal immigration.
332 Indian Immigrants Return to India on 3 US Flights
On Sunday, a US military plane brought back 112 Indians who had been living illegally in the US. The deportees came from various states: 44 from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 31 from Punjab, two from Uttar Pradesh, and one each from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Among them were 19 women, 14 minors, and two infants.
The deportees from Punjab and Haryana were sent to their homes around 4:45 am on Monday, after completing immigration, verification, and background checks.
Earlier, on February 5, a US military plane brought the first group of 104 illegal Indian immigrants to Amritsar. Among them, 33 were from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, and 30 from Punjab.
On February 15, a second US plane brought 116 more illegal Indian immigrants to Amritsar. Some of the men claimed they were kept in shackles during the flight, and Sikh deportees were allegedly not allowed to wear their turbans.`
The deportees from Punjab and Haryana were sent to their homes around 4:45 am on Monday, after completing immigration, verification, and background checks.
Earlier, on February 5, a US military plane brought the first group of 104 illegal Indian immigrants to Amritsar. Among them, 33 were from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, and 30 from Punjab.
On February 15, a second US plane brought 116 more illegal Indian immigrants to Amritsar. Some of the men claimed they were kept in shackles during the flight, and Sikh deportees were allegedly not allowed to wear their turbans.
Out of 116 deportees, 65 were from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujrat, two from Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra And Rajasthan and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir.
The BJP responded, accusing the Opposition of exaggerating the issue.
