Indian envoy raises Sikh trooper’s beard issue with US authorities

Indian envoy raises Sikh trooper’s beard issue with US authorities
New York: The Indian Embassy in Washington has taken up the issue of a Sikh New York State trooper being barred from growing a beard with senior levels of the Biden administration, as lawmakers voiced concern over the incident and termed it “religious discrimination”.

Sikh cop in New York denied permission to grow beard for wedding: Report
New York State trooper Charanjot Tiwana sought permission to grow a beard for his wedding in March last year. However, his request was denied on the grounds that keeping a beard would pose a safety risk if required to wear a gas mask.

Indian officials took up the issue with the office of the New York State Governor and India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has taken up the matter with the Biden administration.