-North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) strongly condemns the shocking incident in which an Amritdhari Sikh Sarpanch, Gurdhian Singh of Nabha, was denied entry into the Red Fort on India’s Independence Day simply because he was wearing his kirpan. Despite being a special invitee on August 15, he was stopped by officials, an action that is deeply humiliating and unconstitutional. This incident has once again highlighted the growing insensitivity and discrimination against Sikhs in their own homeland.
It is shameful that such an incident occurred on the very day India celebrates its freedom. Sikhs, though a small minority, made unparalleled sacrifices for India’s independence. From Bhagat Singh to Udham Singh, from the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh to the countless Sikh soldiers who gave their lives, history bears testimony that the Sikh community’s contribution far exceeds its numbers. Yet, decades after independence, the community continues to face humiliation simply for following its faith. If Amritdhari Sikhs cannot carry their religious symbols freely in India, how can we expect foreign countries to respect Sikh identity and allow them to live with dignity abroad?
The kirpan is not a weapon but a sacred article of the Sikh faith, guaranteed under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. Denying entry to a Sikh carrying a kirpan at a national monument on Independence Day is not only a violation of constitutional rights but also an insult to the very spirit of freedom and secularism. The SGPC President, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, has rightly stated that such behaviour by officials is a serious affront to Sikh sentiments and must be strongly condemned.
On behalf of the Sikh diaspora, the North American Punjabi Association demands an unconditional apology from the Government of India for this disgraceful act. The authorities must take strict action against the responsible officials and issue clear instructions to ensure that such incidents are never repeated. True independence can only be celebrated when every citizen, including Amritdhari Sikhs, can live with full dignity, respect, and freedom to follow their religious beliefs.