Exclusion of Sikh contingents from Republic Day parade unfortunate: Panjoli

Chandigarh, January 27: Shiromani Akali Dal executive committee member and senior Akali Dal leader Karnail Singh Panjoli today expressed strong concern over the first time ever absence of Sikh army contingents from the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in Delhiand termed it as highly unfortunate. He said this shocking exclusion of representation from one of the oldest regiments of the Indian army reinforced the anti-minority perception of the Narendra Modi government.
He said the Sikh regiments have been the pride of the Indian army over the years and one of the most decorated. He said this secular nation had the right to seek answer from Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself as it was a very serious matter in the context that the Republic Day parade is not only the manifestation of country’s might but also diversity for which this biggest democracy is known for. He expressed the apprehension that this reflected the trend towards pushing the minorities and that too which play a very significant role to the margins as part of the deliberate and considered policy of cultural homogenization that happens to be the main thesis of the Sangh Parivar to which Modi beings and whose philosophy shaped his world view being its parcharak.
Panjoli made it clear that the issue was not political per se as it was related to the armed forces but in a democratic structure, such pernicious moves towards mono-cultural identity could not be ignored.
He recalled for years, it had been the demand of the Akali Dal to end quota based system of recruitment in the armed forces as at one time, Sikhs constituted about 30 per cent of the armed forces. Seen in that context, it was socking that the Modi government of which the Akali Dal was a part had opted for such approach that could have far reaching repercussions.
He reiterated that he would not have liked to touch upon such a sensitive issue but it concerned the anti-minority thinking of the Modi government that called for answer.