[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 30 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ARMY RESERVE OFFICER NOT ALLOWED TO WEAR RELIGIOUS SYMBOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2001

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Trilok Singh Puniani is a member of the 
Army Reserve who is being denied the right to wear the symbol of his 
religion. Dr. Puniani is a Sikh and is required by his religion to wear 
his turban. It is one of the five symbols of Sikhism. Dr. Gurmit Singh 
Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, has written to the 
President on Dr. Puniani's behalf.
  Dr. Puniani joined the Army reserve in 1999. There had been a 
exemption granted that permitted the wearing of a turban while in 
uniform and there are three Sikhs who have achieved the rank of Colonel 
who wear their turbans. However, new regulations adopted in July 1999, 
just a month before Dr. Puniani joined the Army Reserve, denied this 
exemption for those who joined the service after 1984.
  Mr. Speaker, the turban is not a hat. It is a religious symbol like 
the cross or the star of David. It should be afforded the same 
treatment.
  One concern about this regulation is that it might discourage Sikhs 
and other minorities from joining the military services of the United 
States. Our armed services need manpower. We should not be discouraging 
anyone from joining. These minority Americans are important to our 
country and to the Army.
  Canada and Britain have significant numbers of Sikhs in their 
military. They both allow these Sikhs to wear their turbans. Why can't 
we?
  Whatever your religious beliefs, the military should treat you 
equally. This is about civil rights and equal treatment. We cannot give 
a preference to any religion, but we also cannot discriminate against 
any religion. I strongly urge the Secretary of Defense to restore the 
exemption so that the religious expression of Dr. Puniani and others 
will be respected.
  I insert Dr. Puniani's complaint and Dr. Aulakh's letter to the 
President into the Record.

                                         Council of Khalistan,

            1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 802, Washington, DC, 
                                                February 20, 2001.
     Hon. George W. Bush,
     President of the United States,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: Today I received by email a letter from 
     Dr. Trilok Singh Puniani, who is a practicing physician and a 
     member of the Army Reserve. He wrote to me about the 
     regulation of July 1999 denying Sikhs who joined the military 
     after 1984 the ability to wear their turbans.
       The turban is a symbol of the Sikh religion. A practicing 
     Sikh is symbolized by five symbols, one of which is uncut 
     hair covered by a turban. In view of this, Dr. Puniani writes 
     that ``this new regulation will deprive the opportunity of 
     joining the US Armed Forces of many aspiring Sikhs who have 
     tremendous potential to serve the country.'' I agree with 
     him. This would be a loss for America and for its armed 
     forces.
       Today there are over half a million Sikh citizens in the 
     United States. They would be deprived of the opportunity to 
     serve their country, the United States of America.
       Not to allow Sikhs in the military to practice their Sikh 
     religion is discriminatory and bad for morale. Sikhs fought 
     valiantly in World Wars I and II along with the Allied forces 
     in Europe and Africa. They suffered heavy casualties. The 
     Sikh soldiers wore their turbans. Belgium erected a special 
     monument to the Sikh forces in Ypres.
       The British and Canadian forces encourage Sikhs to maintain 
     their Sikh appearance. I respectfully urge you to follow 
     their lead and order the armed forces of the United States to 
     allow Sikhs to practice their religion. By so doing, you 
     would raise the morale and effectiveness of the armed forces. 
     America allows freedom of religion and the armed forces would 
     be the best place to put it into practice.
       Thank you for your attention to this problem. God bless you 
     and God bless America.
           Sincerely,

                                      Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

                                                        President,
                                             Council of Khalistan.
       Enclosure: Email from Dr. Puniani.
                                  ____


                 [Received by email, February 20, 2001]

     Re Denial of Sikh attire in the U.S. Army.
       Respected Dr. Aulakh, I would like to bring to your 
     attention that I am in the U.S. Army Reserve since Aug. 1999. 
     According to army regulation there was a provision to an 
     exception for religious accommodation to wear turban while in 
     the uniform. However, with new regulation published in July 
     1999 retroactive as of 1984, the request for religious 
     accommodation will not be entertained, with exception of 
     Sikhs who joined the U.S. Army prior to 1984.
       To my knowledge, there are three other turbaned Sikhs in 
     the US Army in the rank of Colonels. I am not sure about 
     their date of commission. Those of us who joined the army 
     after 1984 may have to separate honorably.
       My concern is that this new regulation will deprive the 
     opportunity of joining the US Armed Forces of many aspiring 
     Sikhs who have tremendous potential to serve the country. 
     America is the champion of democracy and we are being 
     discriminated. I believe as physicians and in other fields we 
     are a valuable asset to the US Army.
       The Sikh soldiers are well respected in the British and 
     Canadian Royal Armed Forces and encouraged to maintain their 
     Sikh appearance. Why this discrimination in the US?
       I think that this matter be brought to the attention of the 
     Senators and the Congress in Washington for us Sikhs to be 
     part and parcel of this nation and allowed to serve the 
     country with pride.
       I am also writing to my local congressman and the unit 
     commanders of the US Army Reserve.
       I am looking forward to seeing you in person when you visit 
     us in Fresno. I will be happy to provide you with more 
     information if needed.
       Wish you all the best and a long life.
                                                Trilok S. Puniani,
                                                       Fresno, CA.

     

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