Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Manjit Singh G.K. has protested the absence of a Sikh regiment contingent in this year’s Republic Day parade and termed it as “unfortunate”.
In a letter to defence minister Manohar Parrikar, the DSGMC chief said the Sikh regiment has a glorious history and Sikh sentiments are attached to the regiment and thus should not have been “excluded” from the R-Day parade.
He said the Indian Army cannot be divided on religious basis, since the Sikhs’ identity is connected to the regiment which has a glorious history. Criticising the absence of Sikh regiment, he said that despite the three wings of Defence Services — Army, Air Force and Navy — having 30 per cent Sikh officers, none of the contingents taking part in the Republic Day parade was led by any Sikh officer.
The DSGMC president said he was not raising the issue of Sikh Regiment only because of their identity “but because of its magnificent past, its contribution in protecting borders of the country and matchless sacrifices towards the nation and the fact can’t be ignored that it is the most decorated regiments in the Indian Army.”
“Sikh Regiment has got 1,652 medals which includes 73 war medals, two Param Vir Chakras, 14 Mahavir Chakras, 5 Kirti Chakras, 2 Ashok Chakras among others,” he wrote.
