The US military bans beards and long hair under new grooming rules, removing religious exemptions for service members. The policy forces Sikhs, Muslims, and Orthodox Jews to choose between their faith and serving in the armed forces. The controversy intensified after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth referred to personnel with beards as “beardos and fat generals.”

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has strongly condemned the move, saying it affects the Sikh and Punjabi communities. SGPC spokesperson Gurcharan Grewal said that Sikhs and Punjabis have faced similar targeting in the past. 

He mentioned past incidents where Sikhs were humiliated during deportations, with their turbans removed and some even handcuffed. The SGPC plans to work with gurdwaras in the US to collect information and address concerns about religious practices.

Gurcharan Grewal emphasized that for Sikhs, the five articles of faith, kesh (uncut hair), kachera, kanga, kirpan, and kara, are mandatory parts of their religion. Any rule that affects these practices goes against Sikh religious beliefs and sentiments.

Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal called the US policy “condemnable and discriminatory.” She said Sikhs have served in the US Army with distinction while keeping their articles of faith. Stripping them of their religious identity is unfair and should be revoked immediately.

Fatehjung Singh Bajwa, Vice President of BJP Punjab, described the ban as “deeply regressive,” saying it attacks the core of religious freedom. He highlighted that Sikhs have a proud history of courage and sacrifice in armies worldwide, and the strength of any army comes from unity of purpose, not uniformity in appearance.

Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh also criticized the move, saying it is not secular thinking. He added that a true Sikh would rather leave a job or army post than remove his beard or turban, which are sacred articles of faith.

Malvinder Kang, AAP MP from Shri Anandpur Sahib, said the US directive is an attack on Sikh history, values, and religious identity. He called on the Indian government and the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately hold talks with the US and demand the withdrawal of the decision.

Leaders from across political parties in Punjab, as well as Sikh organizations, have urged the US to reconsider the policy. They described it as discriminatory, undemocratic, and an attack on religious freedom, and stressed that Sikhs must be allowed to serve in the military without compromising their faith.