Congressmen write to lawmakers to support right of Sikhs

Lalit K Jha

Washington, July 21 (PTI) A growing demand in the US
to allow Sikh soldiers' right to wear turbans has received the
powerful backing from some lawmakers who have written "dear
colleague" letters to their fellow congressmen.

Two lawmakers have written "dear colleague" letters
asking other Congressmen to write to the Defence Secretary to
allow Sikh youths to serve in the military with their turban.

"We are writing to request that you join us in signing
the attached letter that we are sending to Secretary (Robert)
Gates regarding a fundamental issue of fairness, justice, and
religious freedom: the right of Sikh Americans to abide by
their religious articles of faith while serving in the United
States Armed Forces," wrote Congressmen Rodney Frelinghuysen
and Carolyn Maloney in the letters.

Frelinghuysen and Maloney said two commissioned Army
officers, Captain Kamaljeet S Kalsi and Captain Tejdeep S
Rattan - from New Jersey and New York respectively - were not
being permitted to continue their service while wearing a
turban and keeping an unshorn beard, both required tenets of
the Sikh religion.

"Earlier this month, we sent letters to Secretary
(Robert) Gates regarding our respective constituents' requests
for accommodation and urged him to reconsider the policies
that prevent Sikh Americans from freely serving in our Armed
Forces (enclosed)," they said.

"We now ask that you support our efforts and urge
Secretary Gates to allow all Sikhs to serve our military with
their articles of faith intact," the Congressmen said.

The Congressmen have joined a nationwide campaign
launched by Sikh Coalition urging Pentagon to change its
current law, which prohibits a Sikh from joining the US Army
with their turban. The Pentagon has said it is reviewing
its current policy. PTI LKJ