Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, extended greetings on Sikh Dastar Diwas, highlighting the importance of the turban in Sikh faith. Puri shared his experience from 2010 at a US airport where he refused to remove his turban, leading to changes in security procedures for Sikh travelers.
Reflecting on the incident, Puri emphasized the significance of the Dastar as an article of faith and pride for Sikhs. He recalled the incident at the US airport, where his refusal to remove his turban influenced the current practice of self-pat checks by Sikhs at international airports. In 2021, Puri received sacred Sikh scriptures from Afghanistan, a moment he described as deeply blessed.
In 2010, while serving as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Puri’s turban-related security screening at an airport in Texas sparked a diplomatic response from India. The incident led to an apology from US officials and a formal protest from the Indian government. Following India’s protest, then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured a review of policies, resulting in security protocol changes accommodating Sikh religious practices.
